Henry Cecil will have to remain on edge until Saturday afternoon, but the 2000 Guineas preparations for Frankel were virtually completed on Tuesday morning.
The nerves have been evident with Cecil all season as he trains a colt who is now the shortest-priced favourite for the first Classic of the season for 40 years.
Unbeaten in four starts at two, Frankel made a smooth return to the fold in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury on April 16.
His rivals have been dropping by the wayside ever since, and Cecil was pleased with his exercise on the Newmarket gallops.
“He did his final quiet piece of work this morning. I’m delighted with him, but we’ve still got four days to go,” Cecil said.
“It was just with a lead horse, a nice second canter and we let him go on for the last furlong (200m). He was relaxed and settled well.
“He’s in good form and I’ll be surprised if he’s not a better horse now than when he ran at Newbury.”
Ed Dunlop also put the finishing touches on his Craven Stakes winner Native Khan who worked under Kieren Fallon on Tuesday despite the rider being suspended this weekend.
Godolphin’s Casamento is another who appears set to take his place in the line-up.
Winner of the Racing Post Trophy for Michael Halford as a juvenile, it had been thought he was more of a Derby contender for Sheikh Mohammed’s operation.
But after another new recruit, Dubai Prince, was ruled out of the race through injury, Mahmood Al Zarooni and his team have had a rethink.
“Sheikh Mohammed saw him last night and he was very pleased with what he saw,” Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said.
“There’s a strong possibility that he will turn up on Saturday, but the reason we are sitting on the fence a little is because we always felt a mile and a half (2400m) will be his best trip and we think he’d have a great chance in the Derby.
“We’ve got to try to do what’s best for the horse.
“We think he’s got enough speed for a mile (1600m) and he’s going very well so it will either be the Guineas or the Dante.
“There’s a strong chance he’ll run, we just need the green light.”
Godolphin will also be represented by Champagne Stakes winner Saamidd.
PA AAP TURF
