Few trainers this season have saddled as many two-year-old winners as Brian Meehan, and fewer still can anticipate 2009 with the Manton handler's optimism. By way of illustration, Meehan plans to saddle at least two runners in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

A third, Nasri, may yet join Delegator and Galpin Junior, the mounts of Jamie Spencer and Ted Durcan respectively. But Delegator appears the stable's pick after Spencer, standing in for the suspended Jimmy Fortune, rode the colt in a gallop at Manton last week. “His work went extremely well,” Meehan confirmed.

The trainer knows what it takes to be competitive in the Dewhurst, having saddled Fast Company to chase home New Approach 12 months ago. Win or lose, however, Meehan will have several unexposed candidates for the classic trials next term as he has been slightly less ambitious than usual with his better prospects.

“We are retaining a lovely bunch of them,” he said. “Many of them have just run in a couple of maidens and will go on from there.” A typical example is Ra Junior, the easy winner of a Newmarket maiden who steps up in class back at headquarters tomorrow.

Meehan added that Gallagher, runner-up in the Prix Morny, Richmond and Mill Reef Stakes, has done enough for the season. But with Cat Junior (Challenge Stakes) and City Leader (Champion Stakes) also engaged on Saturday, Meehan hopes to close the season with a flourish.

Conversely, the season in Australia is reaching fever pitch. Mad Rush and All The Good, trained respectively by Luca Cumani and Saeed bin Suroor, are to contest the Caulfield Cup on Saturday. Mad Rush's main objective is next month's Melbourne Cup, the race also earmarked for Septimus.

Aidan O'Brien, who trains Septimus, is likely to saddle Duke Of Marmalade and Henrythenavigator in the ten-furlong Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday week. Conduit has been confirmed an intended runner in the Turf.