Montjeu's trainer John Hammond yesterday described the double Derby winner Sinndar as worth every pound of his new 128 rating but added defiantly: 'I'm certainly not afraid of him.'
While Sinndar emphatically stamped his authority all over his Curragh rivals on Sunday, Montjeu won the Grand Prix de St Cloud in effortless style and already anticipation is growing of an epic clash between the pair in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Montjeu, who completed the Irish Derby and Arc double last year, has already been made a 9 to 4 favourite for Longchamp by Cashmans who have Sinndar and the Aga Khan's Coronation Cup winner Daliapour on 8 to 1 each.
Hammond watched the Irish Derby from St Cloud and although he was impressed by Sinndar he is not anxious about Montjeu clashing with him in the Arc or possibly in Leopardstown's Champion Stakes.
The Chantilly trainer said yesterday: 'Sinndar won impressively and any horse who wins two Derbys deserves respect. The handicapper has given him a rating of 128 and I'm sure he's worth that.
'The only thing however is that the two other fancied horses in the race didn't run their race. King's Best unfortunately broke down and Holding Court, on a line through Ciro, didn't run his race. But that is often the way.'
Hammond confirmed the King George & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes as Montjeu's next race and added that Michael Kinane will be in the saddle, replacing Sunday's pilot Cash Asmussen, if he recovers from his back injury.
