Racing: Insatiable attracts Peslier's allegiance

OLIVIER PESLIER has been booked to ride Insatiable for Sir Michael Stoute in the pounds 400,000 Dubai Champion Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday week.

Peslier, who won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for the third successive year at Longchamp last Sunday on Sagamix, had been expected to ride last season's champion two-year-old Xaar in the Group One contest.

Grant Pritchard-Gordon, racing manager for owner Khalid Abdullah, said last night: "A decision on whether Xaar runs has not been made." But Peslier's agent, Shippy Ellis, said: "Olivier was offered the mount on Insatiable on Wednesday, but has been waiting on his availability. He has now spoken to Andre Fabre and been told it is fine to accept another ride." Peslier won the Prix Dollar on Insatiable at Longchamp last Saturday.

n The Philip Mitchell-trained Running Stag faces five rivals, including old foes Skip Away and Gentlemen, in the Grade One Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park tomorrow. The British runner was beaten eight lengths into third behind Skip Away and Gentleman in the Grade One Woodward Stakes at the New York track last month. Rated a 48-1 shot that day, Running Stag has reportedly thrived since that race.

n Gary Stevens has been approached to ride Henry Cecil's Royal Anthem in the Canadian International at Woodbine on Sunday week.