French-based trainer John Hammond appears to be bringing Walk in the Park up to Saturday's $3.4 million Epsom Derby in perfect order.

Hammond, who trained Walk in the Park's sire, Montjeu, to win the 1999 French Derby, is expecting great improvement in the 1 1/2-mile British classic since his charge finished a solid second last time in the Group 3 Lingfield Derby Trial.

Hammond has picked up the services of Alan Munro aboard Walk in the Park, hoping that his rider can repeat the magic he produced when guiding Generous to win the Epsom Derby in 1991.

Cassydora can give trainer John Dunlop his third English Oaks victory at Epsom on Friday when 12 fillies line up for the classic 1 1/2-mile Group 1 test.

Preference for Cassydora is the result of her handy six-length score in the listed Lingfield Oaks Trial on May 7 on a course not dissimilar to Epsom's difficult twists and turns.

The filly New Morning handed last year's Epsom Derby winner, North Light, a shocking defeat with a front-running victory in the 1 1/4-mile Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown Park in England Tuesday night.

Deep Impact and Vengeance of Rain stamped themselves as two of the best horses in Asia on Sunday, with victories in the Japanese Derby and the Hong Kong Champions and Chater Cup.

Deep Impact was the five-length winner of the $3.17 million Tokyo Yushun, or Japanese Derby. Coming from well behind at Tokyo Racecourse, he rumbled to a handy score over Inti Raimi as the 1-10 favorite. He ran the 1 1/2 miles on firm ground in a fast 2:23.30.

Aidan O'Brien may have four starters in Saturday's Epsom Derby, which could have its smallest field since only 11 started in the 1970 edition, won by Nijinsky.

In addition to the O'Brien four - Oratorio, Gypsy King, Almighty, and Grand Central - only 11 others were left in the 1 1/2-mile classic at the five-day entry stage on Monday. They include the Michael Bell-trained favorite, Motivator, as well as the Godolphin pair of Dubawi and Shamardal.

Deep Impact and Vengeance Of Rain stamped themselves as two of the very best horses in Asia, and perhaps the world, with victories Sunday in the Japanese Derby and Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup.

North Light is scheduled to make his seasonal debut on Tuesday night in the 1 1/4-mile Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown Park.

North Light, trained by Michael Stoute, has run only twice since winning the Epsom Derby last June 5. Second to Grey Swallow in the Irish Derby, he later finished a game fifth behind Bago after battling for the lead in the Oct. 3 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. That race came off a three-month layoff.

Deep Impact will be all the rage at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday when he starts as a short-priced favorite in the $3.17 million Tokyo Yushun, or Japanese Derby.

An undefeated son of Sunday Silence, Deep Impact confirmed his class with an impressive 2 1/2-length victory in the 1 1/4-mile Japanese 2000 Guineas at Nakayama on April 17. The Derby's 1 1/2 miles should not pose a problem for Deep Impact, who will be ridden by Japanese ace Yutaka Take for trainer Yasuo Ikee.

Motivator, the 5-2 favorite for the June 4 Epsom Derby, found himself temporarily riderless for the 1 1/2-mile classic after Johnny Murtagh was handed a three-day suspension for "careless riding with increased interference" at Lingfield on Tuesday.

If Murtagh loses his appeal of the June 4-6 ban, Darryll Holland will pick up the plum ride.

Bago and Virginia Waters were beaten favorites at The Curragh on Sunday, as Grey Swallow and Saoire won the Tattersalls Gold Cup and Irish 1000 Guineas.

Grey Swallow sprung a 6-1 surprise at the expense of Bago, last year's European 3-year-old champion, in the Group 1, $314,000 Tattersalls Gold Cup. Last year's Irish Derby winner, Grey Swallow held off the 9-10 Bago's late challenge to prevail by three-quarters of a length. Trained by Dermot Weld, Grey Swallow went the 1 5/16 miles in 2:15.10 on good ground.