RACING NEWS:THE TATTERSALLS Millions Irish Champion Stakes may be billed as a match between Sea The Stars and Fame And Glory but Dermot Weld has confirmed that the Leopardstown highlight will also be Casual Conquest's next start.
Last weekend’s Royal Whip winner has a series of international Group One options this autumn but even the presence of Sea The Stars isn’t dissuading Weld from a crack at the home feature in 16 days’ time.
“Sea The Stars put in a wonderful display at York and clearly looks the best horse in the world but we will support the race and take our chance. Casual Conquest definitely runs in the Irish Champion,” the Curragh trainer said.
“He has come out of his last race well. The Champion Stakes looks like being a very good race but something has to take Sea The Stars on and our horse is in very good form,” he added.
“After he runs there we will decide where to go afterwards.”
Weld also confirmed that Longchamp’s Prix du Moulin looks like being the next start for Famous Name, who turned last Sunday’s Desmond Stakes into a procession.
“It will depend on the ground somewhat but the Moulin looks the most likely option for him,” he said.
In handicap news, the BHA handicapper has confirmed that Sea The Stars is unchanged on a mark of 133 after his Juddmonte International triumph on Tuesday and John Oxx gave the colt a clean bill of health after his exploits on the Knavesmire.
“It’s a relief when it all goes well,” the trainer said. “I don’t really know what his optimum trip is and I don’t think distance really makes much of a difference. He stays a mile and a half well but put a gun to your head, to choose a distance to keep him at, you would pick a mile and a quarter.”
Just eight horses remained in Deauville’s Prix Morny yesterday but they included the big guns of Aidan O’Brien’s Phoenix Stakes winner Alfred Nobel as well as the current ante-post favourite for next year’s Newmarket 2,000 Guineas Canford Cliffs.
Richard Hannon’s unbeaten colt, hugely impressive in Royal Ascot’s Coventry Stakes, could be joined in a strong British challenge on Sunday by the Brian Meehan-trained July Stakes winner Arcano. The main hope looks like being the Prix Robert Papin winner, Special Duty.
As well as Alfred Nobel, O’Brien has left in the Phoenix runner-up Air Chief Marshal and Reggae Dancer. The champion trainer also has kept open the option of running Tuesday night’s Killarney maiden winner Totally Devoted in the Group Three Prix de la Nonette (10f) on the same card.
