Epsom Derby is looking for a sponsor. Epsom Oaks will need a new sponsor this year as well. Vodafone’s partnership with Epsom Downs ended in 2007 after a 13-year run. The two days of racing, the Oaks card on Friday and the Derby card on Saturday, had been sponsored by the European phone company.

Johnno Spence runs the consulting company that carries his name. He manages public relations for Epsom Downs and runs the Derby Festival. He said, “We have been talking to five or six potential sponsors. Before we make announcements about this year’s festival races, we want to have deals in place. We expect to make an announcement in the next few days.”

The 2008 festival will be held on June 6 and June 7, 2008. The Oaks will be run on June 6 and the Derby will be held on June 7.

Sacred Kingdom offered definitive evidence that he is the best sprinter in the world in the Grade I Chairman’s Sprint at Sha Tin Race Course in Hong Kong on Sunday. Absolute Champion had lowered Scared Kingdom’s colours in a 1000-metre event the last time they met. Sacred Kingdom was avenging his loss on Sunday. The margin was a length and a half and the time for 1,200 metres was 1 8.6 seconds. Gerald Mosse, from France, was aboard the winner. Absolute Champion was ridden by Brett Pebble. The race was worth 165,270 pounds to the winner.

Sacred Kingdom will race next in the 1400-metre Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup on March 16. He will take on Good Ba Ba, the winner of the Hong Kong Mile in December, who drops back to 1,400 metres.

Sacred Kingdom’s trainer Ricky Yiu showed optimism. “He is back to his best. I am not concerned about 1,400 metres. We have to draw well. Sacred Kingdom settles well when he has cover. Good Ba Ba is a great horse but dropping to 1,400 may blunt his kick. It is going to be an exciting race.”

Eagle Mountain was second in the Derby at Epsom last year. He chased home Authorized and Frankie Dettori. In Ireland, in the Irish Derby, Eagle Mountain could no better than finish third on a rain-soaked track. Soldier of Fortune, another O’Brien charge, Seamus Heffernan up, won by a city block.

Eagle Mountain, now with Mike De Kock in Dubai, broke his pelvic bone while training on Saturday. Rock of Gibraltar is Eagle Mountain’s sire. De Kock was unhappy. “It is not career-ending but he will not race in Dubai. He will go in year-end races in Europe. He was a tremendous grass prospect. It is a big setback.”

Todd Pletcher had the favoured Cowboy Cal in the 1700-metre Hallandale Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park in Florida on Saturday. Why Tonto, another Pletcher trainee, was less fancied. When the dust had settled, it was Why Tonto thought to be a second stringer, in the hands of Edgar Prado who came away victorious and joined the ranks of first stringers.

Pletcher took the result without emotion. “Why Tonto ran an improved race. Cowboy Cal was rank and did not handle the first turn well. I thought he still ran well to be second off those fractions. Our plans will not change.”

The $150,000 San Carlos Handicap at Santa Anita on Saturday was won by Surf Cat, Alex Solis up. Surf Cat lay in middivision and was able to benefit from a duel up front. He ran hard when asked to race past the front runners to win the 1400-metre race in 1 21.62 seconds. Seven ran. Surf Cat returned $7.00.

Surf Cat won the San Carlos two years ago. Jockey Solis expressed relief. “It is really nice to see Surf Cat get back to form. He’s such a good horse.”

Greg’s Gold disputed the lead with Johnny Eves, edged ahead in the lane and failed to contain Surf Cat’s thrust. Circular Quay, a 2007 Derby contender, had a troubled beginning and was unplaced.

Golden Dawn took the Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel in Maryland on Saturday. Jockey Channing Hill rode. Eight ran in the 1400-metre race. The winner’s time was 1 23.24 seconds. Golden Dawn paid $10.00.

Oprah Winnet, last year’s Barbara Fritchie winner, set up shop on the front but slowed down and was pulled up around the final turn.

Five ran in the Grade III $150,000 Hurricane Bertie Handicap at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Sugar Swirl, a 10 to 7 on favourite, won the race going away - eight and three quarter lengths. The time was 1 22.77 seconds for 1400 metres.

Javier Catellano, the winning jockey, expressed confidence about Sugar Swirl’s future. “She was primed and ready to go today. The way she won, she will go longer. I had a ton of horse going into the last turn.”

Trainer Steve Asmussen has reached a milestone. He trained his 4,000th winner on Sunday. Going into Sunday, Asmussen, 42, had 3,998 wins. Far East Gold won the fifth race at Fair Grounds with Shaun Bridgmohan taking Asmussen’s number to 3,999, Five minutes later, at Oaklawn Park. Jockey Luis Quinonez steered the Asmussen-trained J J’s Bud to victory in a maiden event.

“I was not hung up on 3,999 too long,” reacted, a laughing Steve Asmussen. “I am proud to be part of the elite group that includes Jack Van Berg, Richard Hazleton, Jerry Hollendorfer, Wayne Lukas and others I greatly respect.”

Asmussen was at Fair Grounds in Louisiana on Sunday. Asmussen trained Curlin, horse of the year in 2007. Curlin is now in Dubai getting ready for the World Cup. Asmussen is now eighth in terms of wins for trainers.

In Tokyo on Sunday, Admire Monarch won the Diamond Stakes, a 3400-metre race. The time was 3 minutes 33.6 seconds. The winner’s share of the purse was $186,698. The jockey was K Ando and H Matsuda was the winning trainer.