Racing: Shaamit stays at home for stud duties

For once, the lure of the East has been resisted and Shaamit, the Derby winner, will stand at the National Stud in Newmarket rather than follow the exodus of Epsom winners. His owner, Khalifa Dasmal, has turned down offers for the colt from Japan - where the last five Derby victors stand - in order to support racing in Britain.

"Shaamit is a traditionally British-bred horse and the National Stud is the traditional British stallion station, so we think they'll do the best job with him," Mark Crossman, Dasmal's adviser, said.

Shaamit will be the first Derby winner to stand at the stud since Mill Reef died in 1986. His fee has been set at pounds 7,500, with a book of mares likely to be restricted to around 40.

Tony McCoy was yesterday booked to ride Dr Leunt in the Tote Silver Trophy at Chepstow on Saturday. McCoy has been riding often this season for Martin Pipe, who has three possible runners in the contest, but McCoy's agent, Dave Roberts, said: "Philip Hobbs wanted Tony for Dr Leunt, so he rides."

The five-year-old has not run since being disqualified from second in the Triumph Hurdle last year and has been backed from 16-1 to 6-1 with the sponsors in recent days.

n Sil Sila, the Prix de Diane winner, will go through the sales ring at Newmarket next month. But Brian Smart, her trainer, hopes his stable star will not reach her reserve, and is already making plans for 1997 for the filly. "I hope this does not signal the end of her career," he said. "I have entered her today for the Dubai World Cup."