JOHN QUINN'S stable has struck form in the nick of time for Caribbean Coral (3.30) to repeat last year's victory in Epsom's £75,000 Vodafone Dash, writes Colin Woods (Janus).

The predominately downhill home straight has the enviable distinction of being the fastest five-furlong track in the world, a feature that constantly throws up course specialists such as Caribbean Coral.

The figures speak for themselves since it took Quinn's flying six-year-old a mere 54.86 seconds to take the 2004 running of the race, a stunningly fast speed figure considering he had to weave his way through the pack inside the final furlong.

Another trainer from our region with an excellent record at the course is Dandy Nicholls, who boasts a profit of over £30 to a £1 level stake to all runners at the venue during the past five seasons.

Although Nicholls goes mob-handed into the closing Vodafone Sprint Handicap, Kieren Fallon's mount, Gift Horse (5.40), could easily be different class to his four stable-mates.

Gift Horse appeared to have the money in the bag at York's May meeting, only to be overhauled in the final 50 yards by Soldiers Tale and Fonthill Road. There's solid evidence to suggest that was one of the hottest handicap of the season and as a result there was more encouragement than disgrace in Gift Horse's defeat.

In an attempt to bank some early cash, I'll be having a small investment on Mark Johnston's Takhmin (2.00) in the opener.

Takhmin shouldn't be judged on his most recent down-the-field seventh placing at Newbury, where all the jockeys reported underfoot conditions to be like iron. Sheikh Maktoum's colt needs a little bit of give to show his best and seeing as the executive has done a pretty good job watering the track, there's every reason to believe Takhmin will now fare far better.

The horse that beat Takhmin at Newbury, stable-companion I'm So Lucky (2.05), has a great chance of landing the 888.com Handicap at Haydock.

He's a typically progressive Johnston-trained colt, with the sort of improving profile which could take him to Royal Ascot at York in one of the valuable mile-and-a-half events scheduled for mid-June.

Provided nothing hassles Jeepstar (2.20) for the lead in Doncaster's Carling Handicap, then it could be curtains for his rivals once heads turn for home up the long and testing straight on the Town Moor.

It suits Jeepstar to dictate the matters from the front, mainly because his relentless style of galloping means he relies upon gradually winding up the pace, rather than having to try to out-sprint the opposition in a slowly-run race.

In the later Skybet Fillies Stakes, True Magic (3.20) holds outstanding claims for James Bethell's yard.

She posted wins at Leicester and Thirsk last season and gave notice her turn was again near when finishing runner-up to Whinhill House at Carlisle.

Whinhill House has been an absolute revelation of late, picking up a lot of prize money both on the all-weather and turf.

Any individual to get within sniffing distance of the latter is worth sticking with, especially as True Magic comes from a family which traditionally does better with age.

* Leyburn trainer Karl Burke is enjoying a purple patch, and was in the winner's enclosure again after Triskaidekaphobia made it third time lucky in the hands of Darren Williams in the Geoffrey Rathmell's Birthday Median Auction Maiden Stakes at Thirsk yesterday.

Triskaidekaphobia won by half a length, and Burke, saddling his ninth winner in the past 15 days, including five since Wednesday.

Michael Dods dashed from an 80th birthday party, being held a few miles away, at 4pm to make sure the going was suitable for Aahgowangowan, decided it was and the mare did the rest, scoring by two lengths in the hands of Royston Ffrench in the Sowerby Welter Fillies' Handicap. Dods trains the winner for Vic Roper and said: "We will probably run her under a penalty at Hamilton next Wednesday, she suits a jockey like Royston.''

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