Mr Epsom is Off to Newmarket

Epsom racecourse will begin the search for a new managing director this morning following the news that Stephen Wallis has decided to take up the same position at New market later this year. However, Wallis will remain in charge of the search for a new sponsor for the Derby, which hopes to conclude a deal with a suitable company before Christmas.

Wallis has been on the staff at Epsom for 14 years, during which time the Derby has reversed a sharp decline in its status and drawing power with the British sporting public. Recent renewals have seen at least 100,000 spectators crowding on to the Downs to watch the sport's most famous Classic, while the course is currently undergoing a major redevelopment program to replace its main grandstand, which will not be complete until 2009. Next year the course will host only the two Classic meetings for the Derby and Oaks.

Both Epsom and New market are ultimately part of the 14-track Jockey Club Racecourses group, and Wallis yesterday spelled out some of his reasons for the move. "There are not many racecourses that are bigger than Epsom," he said, "but I think that New market is one of them. It is the hub and the heart of the industry, it is racing's racecourse and it runs races that racing needs.

"I also love my race days, I look at them like a theatrical production, talking to racegoers and mixing with them, and there will only be two of those at Epsom between now and April 2009. It will be sad in a way as I have put in so much at Epsom, I've been here for a little over a quarter of my life, but sometimes it can be a good thing for someone new to come in and finish what has been started."

Wallis will hope to leave with a sponsor in place for the Derby following the end of Vodafone's 13-year link in June, but the search is still some way from a conclusion. "The goal in my mind has always been to have it sorted by Christmas," he said. "We need to find the right company in terms of prestige, heritage and world-class sport, and companies like that do exist."

Meanwhile, connections of the official world No1 racehorse Manduro, who suffered a serious leg injury when winning the Prix Foy at Long champ on Sunday, confirmed yesterday that the five-year-old will not race again.

"It is not life-threatening but it is the end of his racing career," said Paul Harley, racing manager to Baron Georg von Ullman, Manduro's owner. "The baron is absolutely gutted. He hasn't made it to the office this morning. He's absolutely devastated and cannot put it into words.

"Manduro will now go off to Sheikh Mohammed's Dalham Hall Stud, and I'm sure he'll be as great a success as a stallion as he was as a racehorse."

The Aidan O'Brien challengers for the Melbourne Cup, Yeats and Septimus, have both escaped penalties for the two-mile handicap after their victories in the Irish St Leger and Doncaster Cup respectively. Yeats, already top weight with 59kg (9st 4lb) would need to break a 38-year weight-carrying record to win this year's race.

Ron Cox's tip of the day

Zero Cool 4.20 Lingfield

Lucarno's St Leger win on Saturday advertised the wellbeing of trainer John Gosden's runners and Zero Cool can keep the hot streak going. This colt was not given a hard time when sixth of 14 on his debut at New market and the form is stacking up nicely with the seventh, eighth and ninth all going on to land their maidens. Zero Cool showed enough to suggest he can follow suit today.