These statistics, though, could not rescue Shaamit.This is not to say the colt had the back of his legs slapped when he returned to Willie Haggas's Somerville Lodge yard In fact, connections thought he ran rather well. "I would imagine he will be retired at the end of the season and it is possible he won't run again in this country," Wragg said yesterday. "Races like the Arc, the Breeders' Cup and the Japan Cup are the plan, though he wouldn't run in the Arc if it was very soft."In defeating Classic Cliche and Shaamit, the Derby winner, Pentire put another dagger into the Blue Riband form. By a blend of judgement and good fortune, the trustees and Geoff Wragg, the brothers' designated trainer, have managed to purchase the Group winners Petardia, Nicolotte, First Trump, Pentire and First Island in recent seasons.Pentire is the best and is so good that it feels unreal to remember he was considered unfit for the Derby just over 12 months ago. It is a salutary lesson to those who pledge their last penny on the strength of gallops reports that even Wragg could not decipher the potential of the young colt that performed in front of him on the Newmarket trial grounds.Pentire cost 54,000 guineas, and Saturday's emphatic win in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes took his earnings to almost pounds 800,000, and there is still a stud valuation to come.It could be that Pentire will slip into the role of Lothario without another appearance in Britain.

Turf finances and prize-money within these shores should have seen the legacy shrivel before the wreaths had wilted, but the chocolate and gold colours of Mollers Racing have been astoundingly successful. It must be a great frustration for those who pay bills for slow horses that in this case racing seems to be going the way of art and great success comes only after the recipients have breathed their last. Eric Moller set up a trust in 1988 to finance the careers of a handful of horses after the time he would no longer be around to see them. However, on Saturday at Ascot, the nation's most prestigious all-age race went to Pentire, the property of Mollers Racing, and there could be no complaints about prize-money because Eric and Budgie Moller are dead. Mark Hughes volleyed Chelsea into a 17th minute lead and Dan Petrescu headed in John Spencer's cross in the 31st minute.. Owning racehorses in Britain is becoming an increasingly nasty business, thanks largely to the laughable amount of money the off-course bookmakers return to the sport. However, Chelsea's band of 600 supporters went home happy after witnessing the impressive debuts of Ruud Gullit's two other foreign signings, Franck Le Bouef and Roberto Di Matteo. The Frenchman Le Bouef produced a solid display in defence and looked comfortable on the ball while the former Lazio midfielder, Di Matteo, impressed the crowd with the full range of his passing ability. To suggest that he will become a United player is not a runner at present.''The winger Mark Walters has left Southampton on a free transfer and joined First Division Swindon, who have also signed the Heart of Midlothian midfield player Scott Leitch for an undisclosed fee..

Gianluca Vialli's English debut was again delayed as Chelsea completed an easy 2-0 victory over Swindon Town in a benefit match at the County Ground. A sell-out crowd of nearly 14,000 turned up hoping to see the former Juventus striker in action, but they were disappointed as the Italian was forced out of the game with a calf problem. Meanwhile Joe Royle, the Everton manager, dismissed reports that Everton have mounted an ambitious bid for Bayern Munich's former Tottenham forward, Jurgen Klinsmann.Jack Walker, the multi-millionaire Blackburn Rovers owner, travelled from his Jersey home to Lancashire for crisis talks with Alan Shearer yesterday in an attempt to keep the England striker at Ewood Park.Shearer met the Rovers manager, Ray Harford, and the chairman, Robert Coar, for talks on Saturday as speculation continued about his future. Manchester United, Newcastle and Rangers plus clubs from Italy and Spain have been linked with the Euro 96 top scorer.Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager who watched his side beat an FAI National XI 4-1 in Dublin yesterday, said: "We have put in a genuine offer for Shearer but they are inclined to get irritable in that part of the country if we press the issue. The two sides shared third place in the Sir John Moores Centenary Trophy, which was won by Borussia Monchengladbach, thanks to a 3-2 win over Porto.On Saturday Liverpool had lost 2-0 to the Portuguese champions while Everton were beaten on penalties by the German Bundesliga side. "They told us they would give us an answer this weekend, but we haven't heard from them."Honours ended even in yesterday's pre-season Merseyside derby as Everton and Liverpool drew 0-0 at Goodison Park.

The 25-year-old Welsh centre will then rejoin Swansea in a four-year deal which is reported to be costing the Welsh side pounds 200,000.. Football Liverpool are ready to end their attempts to sign the Czech Republic playmaker Patrik Berger from Borussia Dortmund. Roy Evans, the Anfield manager, has been frustrated by the German champions, who are keen to hang on to Berger even though the player has expressed a desire to play for Liverpool. "We have told Dortmund if we don't get a decision by tomorrow, we will pull out of the deal," Evans said yesterday. ROUND-UP Third-placed Bradford swept to their sixth straight victory and their most convincing of the summer by demolishing Oldham 56-0 at Odsal yesterday evening. But Warrington, in fourth place, slumped 28-22 at Sheffield, along with London, their rivals for a top four play-off place.Glen Tomlinson made the most of a rare starting opportunity with a fine display for Bradford. He scored one of his side's 10 tries and had a hand in several of the others, three of which came from Robbie Paul.Mark Aston was Sheffield's star with a try and four goals against Warrington, who went in at the break level at 10-10 but lost their grip as the Eagles ran in three tries in the first 25 minutes of the second period.A 46-20 defeat by Castleford left Workington closer than ever to relegation.They have conceded 817 points, more than any other side in the league.Scott Gibbs is on his way back to Swansea RUFC, but will play one more game for St Helens - away to Castleford on Friday.