News and previews: The Queen Mary Stakes winner, Damson, is on track to try to maintain her unbeaten record in the first Group One of the season for two-year-olds at the Curragh next Sunday.
Trainer David Wachman yesterday confirmed the Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes will be Damson's next start where she will take on the colts for the first time.
"We have been happy with her since Ascot and the runner-up Soar has boosted the form by winning the Princess Margaret Stakes," said Wachman, who has other Group One targets later in the season.
"She would probably go for the Moyglare Stud Stakes," he said. "She is also in the Prix Morny if she takes Sunday's race well but there are lots of options. The jockey situation depends on what Aidan (O'Brien) does but it is a possibility that Jamie (Spencer) could ride on Sunday."
The Ballydoyle team have already nominated the Anglesey winner Oratorio as a likely starter in the Phoenix Stakes as O'Brien goes in search of a remarkable seventh success in a row in the big juvenile race.
A bank holiday Monday means there is no post-Galway respite but one man who won't be complaining about the double dates at Cork and Naas is Dermot Weld, who looks set to land both Stakes races at the southern fixture.
Just four line up for the King Charlemagne Platinum Stakes and they include Caradak, who landed a sizable gamble when easily beating Dawn Raider in a Galway maiden last Tuesday night.
The benchmark, however, in this is the consistent six-year-old One More Round, who returned from a break to run a length and a half second to Trade Fair in the Group Three Minstrel Stakes.
Weld sets a poser in the Give Thanks Stakes by running both Rich Sense and Out Of Thanks with John Oxx's Tarakala representing Group Three form from her last start.
Pat Smullen is on Rich Sense who won a handicap at Galway but the runner-up that day, Moratorium, looked a bit unlucky in running and maybe Pat Shanahan can again come in for some Listed success on Out Of Thanks.
The Sadler's Wells filly will be ideally suited by the step up to a mile and a half after two wins at 10 furlongs and, although the ground could be a concern, Weld clearly feels she may act on the going.
David Wachman also runs two in the six furlong maiden and Jamie Spencer and Luas Line look the answer. This one had quite a reputation before her debut in the Silver Flash Stakes when winding up only seventh behind Silk And Scarlet. Improvement is inevitable and that should see Luas Line clear.
High Gear returned from a break to run third to Mount Prospect at Kilbeggan and Charlie Swan's runner can edge out Cherry Valley in the three-mile maiden hurdle.
Enfield Chase has been a disappointing horse this season but the opening six furlong maiden at Naas can see the Tommy Stack horse break his duck.
The three-year-old had been running over 11 furlongs until reverting to a mile at Galway last Monday when it was only in the closing stages that he got run out.
Now Enfield Chase drops back to six furlongs and, on the evidence of last week, a cut and run operation looks the solution to getting his head in front.
