Talk about novelty events. We cannot compete with the four days of alligator racing which culminated on Friday, sponsored by an Internet Company in the UK.

There were six alligators in each race, separated by glass partitions to avoid any un-scheduled "bouts", and to keep their minds focused, especially as betting was a major part of the order.

This was a charity in aid of the plight of Cayman Island Alligators, who average between 18"-2' long, and seemed happy with their new "role" in life. They never posed any danger, and lights from cameras did not effect their performance. Never pushed or encouraged in any way to do their bit, so, animal rights activists, had no cause to panic.

Money raised from the occasion will go towards an alligator sanctuary in South America.

Meanwhile, with only three weeks to go before the Vodaphone Epsom Derby, 2,400m, two horses are out already. Milan has a spiral fracture in his off-fore cannon bone, and, Tendulkar, has a back injury. Both colts were being seriously considered as threats to Hawk Wing and Rock Of Gibraltar – the O'Brien pair, could meet again in the Irish 2,000 Guineas on May 25th.

One would normally assume such two valuable horses, would not be worth risking and head straight for the Epsom Classic, but nothing is finalised.

High Chaparral seems much better qualified for the extra Derby distance, and will follow in Galileo's hoof prints by running in the Derrinstown Trial at Leopardstown today. Seamus Heffernan rides High Chaparral, while Michael Kinane is duty-bound for the French Guineas.

This is the latest scoop to keep you alert, as top jockey Frankie Dettori watches TV for four days after receiving a "gift-wrapped" four-day whip ban at Doncaster. This is not much in the UK where racing is on a day and night basis throughout the season.

Our own pre-Derby-summation, is that Hawk Wing has class dripping out of every cell, and a neck second in the Guineas is hardly a downfall.

There is no substitute for quality of this calibre. One cannot define a horse like Hawk Wing. Take some ante-post prices and you should do better than waiting for the last minute.