Racing/News round-up: Dermot Weld has two runners in tonight's maiden at Limerick, but with a prospective Oaks challenge by Dream To Dress in mind the Curragh trainer might not be entirely heartbroken if Kevin Prendergast's Lady Fonic came out on top.
Weld has confirmed his intention to run Dream To Dress in the Epsom Oaks in seven days' time as he goes in search of a repeat of Blue Wind's win in the race all of 24 years ago.
Blue Wind, who was ridden at Epsom by Lester Piggott, went to the Oaks on the back of a placing in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, but Dream To Dress will be asked to step up from her maiden win at Fairyhouse 16 days ago.
The Moyglare Stud-owned filly beat Lady Fonic by three lengths on that occasion and while that may seem a long way off Classic form, Weld was yesterday able to make at least some comparisons between Dream To Dress and Blue Wind.
"She is a very big filly and the track at Epsom would hardly be ideal for her. But I managed to win the Oaks with another big filly in Blue Wind. She was 16.2hh as well but if they are athletic it isn't really a problem," he said.
"We won't make a final decision about running until next week, but at the moment Dream To Dress is an intended runner. It's a big step up from a maiden, but she is a very progressive filly," Weld added.
Bookmaker reaction has been to make Dream To Dress as short as 16 to 1 for the Oaks, a Classic that Irish-trained horses have won three times in the last 14 years. The first of those was Jet Ski Lady in 1991 and her trainer Jim Bolger is now set to run Pictavia, who also carries the Maktoum Al Maktoum colours, in the race next week.
Aidan O'Brien, a two-time winner with Shahtoush (1998) and Imagine (2001), has a trio of fillies to pick from this time, including Virginia Waters who will have to be supplemented at a cost of £20,000.
Johnny Murtagh will have to wait until only days before tomorrow week's Derby before he knows if he will be able to ride the big race favourite Motivator. The jockey yesterday lodged an appeal against the three-day careless riding ban he picked up at Lingfield on Monday and that hearing is likely to be held next week. A Jockey Club spokesman confirmed: "The hearing is likely to be held on Tuesday or Wednesday but a precise date has yet to be agreed."
Final declarations for the Derby will be made on Thursday and Darryll Holland is on standby to ride Motivator if Murtagh is unable to get his ban reduced.
Dermot Weld also reported yesterday that his four-time Irish Leger winner Vinnie Roe has emerged unscathed from his comeback success in Wednesday night's Saval Beg success at Leopardstown.
"He is 100 per cent, I'm glad to say, and the Gold Cup at York is the target," said Weld who also had news of his good three-year-old Bobs Pride. "He's had a busy spring and is on a little break at the moment. The Celebration Mile at the Curragh over the Derby weekend is the race I have in mind for him."
The first weekend in June will be a busy Classic time for Irish-trained horses. As well as the Oaks and Derby at Epsom, John Oxx has already committed his 2,000 Guineas Trial winner and Derrinstown Trial runner-up Alayan to Sunday week's Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, which will be run for the first time over a mile and a quarter.
If Dermot Weld's focus is on tonight's maiden, then David Wachman will be an interested party as well with the Sadler's Well filly Dragon Fly looking a good bet to win at the second time of asking.
Kieren Fallon has been booked for the ride on Dragon Fly who was favourite on her Naas debut, but was hardly suited by the mile and the very quick going.
This distance and easier ground will make her hard to beat.
Another eye-catching jockey booking is that of Mick Kinane for Mary From Murroe in the mile maiden while Blessyourpinksox can follow up a Fairyhouse success off a 5lb higher rating in the fillies handicap.
