News and previewOne Cool Cat's racing future now looks in serious doubt with Aidan O'Brien admitting he couldn't believe the double Group One winner's performance when beaten at the Curragh on Saturday.
The Storm Cat colt managed to finish only fifth to Red Feather in the Group Three International Stakes and O'Brien was left scratching his head for a reason.
"I didn't think there was a three-year-old alive that could beat him," he said yesterday. "His work has been so special. There is obviously a problem somewhere."
O'Brien pointed to the irregular heartbeat that reared its head after the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas and said there could still be a problem there.
"His heartbeat was checked after the race on Saturday and it was only 80 beats a minute when it should have been 120. It never rose to what it should be," said O'Brien.
One Cool Cat's owner John Magnier played a straight bat to questions about whether the $3.1 million yearling purchase would ever race again.
"Never say never but one would have to see something happening that is different to things at the moment," the Coolmore boss said.
"Aidan is the one training him so it is his call. There is definitely something wrong because he was a good horse one time. We're lucky he got a few things on board last year. Sometimes you can have a horse like that and they win nothing," Magnier added.
The Ballydoyle team are considering challenging for Saturday's all-aged highlight, the King George and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot.
"Powerscourst and Tycoon are possibles with Tycoon being a little bit more likely to run," O'Brien said.
Tycoon's only start this season yielded a third placing to Grey Swallow an North Light in the Irish Derby at 150 to 1 odds.
Ballinrobe race again this evening where Nic's Colleen looks like one to check out in the second division of the six-furlong handicap.
Danny Grant's mount is 5lbs higher in the ratings for beating Togher Castle over a mile at Killarney last week but she is a distance winner and still looks to be ahead of the handicapper.
Woody Glen is 7lbs higher for a two-and-a-half-length success at Roscommon last time and represents the formidable Tony Martin-Ruby Walsh combination in the handicap hurdle. A union that should be hard to beat on the day.
