NEWS ROUND-UP: WITH JUST 16 days to the first classics of the year, the already formidable Irish challenge for the Guineas races continues to grow, with David Wachman reporting there is "every chance" his Group One filly Again will take her place at Newmarket.
The Danehill Dancer filly finished her two-year-old campaign by beating just two home in the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp but prior to that had got the better of a highly-rated rival in Shimah in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh.
Wachman has ruled out a possible prep run for the 1,000 Guineas but issued a positive bulletin yesterday about the filly, who races in the colours of Michael Tabor. “A decision won’t be taken until closer to the time but there is every chance she could go to Newmarket. She has a couple of bits of work to do and then we will see,” the trainer said.
“She was a big scopey filly last year who could only get stronger and she has done that.”
Again is currently a 16 to 1 shot with Paddy Power in a 1,000 Guineas market that sees Cuis Gaire as the shortest-priced Irish contender. Again’s old rival Shimah is a general 14 to 1 and is also set to have her first start of 2009 at Newmarket.
“She’s in good shape and is coming on well. She will go to Newmarket, all going according to cocker, and she has done very well over the winter,” Shimah’s trainer Kevin Prendergast said yesterday.
The veteran Curragh trainer added it remains the plan for his impressive trial winner Recharge to skip Newmarket and wait for the Curragh Guineas. A remarkable seven of the top 10 colts in ante-post betting for the Newmarket 2,000 are Irish-trained.
John Oxx’s pair, Arazan and Sea The Stars, as well as Jim Bolger’s Intense Focus are among the names along with a strong battalion from Ballydoyle headed by the champion juvenile Mastercraftsman and his stable companion Rip Van Winkle.
Last year’s Prix Morny and Middle Park winner Bushranger could also make the Newmarket mix despite Wachman not ruling out a sprinting career for the Danetime colt.
Meanwhile, Leopardstown officials hope ground conditions will return to good by Sunday’s PW McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes which could again prove a significant Epsom Derby trial. The going was officially good before rain hit the Dublin area yesterday.
“Conditions have eased today but the forecast for the rest of the week isn’t too bad and things should improve. It might get back to good by Sunday but it’s difficult to call at this remove,” said Leopardstown manager Tom Burke.
Aidan O’Brien’s Group One winner Fame And Glory faces carrying a penalty for his Criterium de Saint-Cloud win but the champion trainer also has the option of running Masterofthehorse.
Jim Bolger has the option of running the Curragh maiden winner Toraidhe alongside Gan Amhras, who he has already described as his Derby horse for this season, while Dermot Weld has entered Grace O’Malley, winner of a Curragh maiden last September.
Sunday’s main support event is the Listed Heritage Stakes in which Bolger’s progressive Three Rocks, a three-time winner already this season, could step up to black type company.
Naas hosts another Listed event on Saturday with six British entries for the Woodlands Stakes over five furlongs. They include the former Prix de l’Abbaye winner Benbaun, who is now trained by Kevin Ryan.
This weekend could also see the first two-year-olds from Aidan O’Brien’s yard step out with a trio of juveniles – Air Chief Marshall, Beethoven and Alfred Nobel — entered for both Naas and Leopardstown.
