The sympathetic approach worked and he's paid us all back in some style

The sympathetic approach worked and he's paid us all back in some style."As the jump season bowed out, thoughts turned towards high summer with four Derby entrants among the six runners in the Classic Trial.But the winner, Voyagers Quest, continuing the good run for the Peter Chapple-Hyam-Robert Sangster team at Manton, was not one of them, and is bound for the French version at Chantilly.The Derby favourite Entrepreneur worked here yesterday and, in terms of missing a golden promotional opportunity, United Racecourses proved the Gareth Southgate of course management. Last week United - which also runs Epsom - launched a campaign to rekindle public interest in the Derby, the high spot of which was assorted "personalities" dancing a conga past the winning post.Yesterday, presented with the horse the racing public most wants to see - the Michael Stoute-trained colt, who has not run since winning at Chester seven months ago, is strongly fancied for Saturday's 2,000 Guineas - the Sandown authorities omitted to ensure that his early-morning workout was filmed by the Channel 4 team, a piece of footage that would have been guaranteed to spark interest in the Derby.The Sandown authorities found themselves on the back foot over the incident, but the course clerk Andrew Cooper's excuse that he had been unaware of the identity of the horses working, and his suggestion that he would have needed the trainer's approval before allowing any filming, fell on largely unsympathetic ears.Coupled with the inconvenience caused by the worrying precedent of a ban on cars in the face of no terrorist threat to the yesterday's meeting or even the suggestion of one, Sandown's biggest day was not its finest.As Entrepreneur, ridden by his likely 2,000 Guineas pilot Michael Kinane, galloped with his stablemate Sacrament over seven furlongs, his market rival Revoque proved his well-being in a similar workout at Newbury, finishing five lengths clear of Panama City and Musick House under John Reid.. There is probably no one in racing today who has been there, done that, worn the T-shirt more than Robert Sangster. He has won just about every big race, but his competitive instinct remains as sharp as ever. And a victory for Revoque in Saturday's 2,000 Guineas, the first Classic of the season, would bring particular satisfaction. Not just because Sangster, the ultimate bloodstock businessman, has a substantial stake in the colt's sire Fairy King and owns his dam La Bella Fontana Or even because he has had a serious punt at rewarding odds The reasons are more personal.

"My son Ben picked him out as a foal and bought him," he said. "He's a terrific judge of a horse - actually much better than me - and I'd be thrilled for him if he could win." The intriguing story of Revoque typifies Sangster's present role in the world of racing, one he thoroughly enjoys. The days when he spent millions at the yearling sales in the quest for high-class colts to race in his own colours and turn into stallions have gone; he now breeds his own and sells as many as he keeps. He's a trader, with horses his currency.He has actually bought La Bella Fontana twice in the past eight years. The first time, for 12,000 guineas, she was a prospective mate for Fairy King, but the product of that first union was not much good. After three years the formula was tried again, but by then La Bella Fontana has passed into the ownership of one of Sangster's partners, who in turn sold her the following year for 1,200 guineas to a small Irish breeder.Meanwhile, Sangster jnr had acquired the second Fairy King colt - Revoque - for 36,000 guineas at auction. And even then it was only because nature intervened that he runs in the famous blue, green and white silks.

"He was actually bought to re-sell as a yearling, but he just grew and grew and grew, and was far too big and boat-like to offer," said Sangster. "Just as well, really."Last year Sangster tracked down La Bella Fontana and brought her back into his 100-strong Swettenham Stud broodmare band. It was at a cost of pounds 80,000 this time, but she is now carrying to Fairy King again, and who knows what that foal might be worth "I enjoy dealing," said Sangster. "It used to be a matter of which one to buy; now I have to judge which one to sell. The skill is getting the balance right, and sometimes I'm wrong, but trading is fun."Like most of Sangster's horses, Revoque, last year's champion two-year- old, has a price tag on his head. Bidding would start at $10m, but only after Saturday, as his owner is looking forward to claiming a fourth 2,000 Guineas after Lomond, El Gran Senor and Rodrigo de Triano. "In terms of confidence, I'd say I was more than with Rodrigo and less than with the Senor.