RACING/News round-up: It's back to the old after yesterday's Turf Club decision to take the controversial new starting stalls out of action after a series of embarrassing mishaps.
The old style "New Zealand" stalls will be back in use pending a full electrical and mechanical examination of their successors, which have had their teething problems since being introduced to Ireland last month.
There was a delay in the appearance of the so-called "Italian" stalls but once in commission, they have been making some unwelcome headlines.
At Cork on June 12th, the Group Three Ballyogan Stakes had to be started by flag after a pre-race test revealed an electrical fault. A similar problem arose at Limerick six days later.
The problems continued at Bellewstown last Friday night when three stalls failed to open and the race in question had to be started by flag.
The stalls issue has also led to a disagreement between the Racehorse Owners' Association chairman, Peter McCarthy, and the stalls operator Paddy Walsh, the former expressing concern at the safety of horses in the starting gates and the need for each track to have its own stalls.
Meanwhile, Aidan O'Brien indicated yesterday that Antonius Pius may be his sole representative at the Newmarket July meeting, which starts today. Antonius Pius is ante-post favourite for Thursday's Group One Darley July Cup, which has its final declaration stage this morning.
"It has been the plan all along to run Antonius Pius in the race," said the Ballydoyle trainer. "It doesn't look like we will have any other runner at Newmarket."
The O'Brien-trained Tycoon, a 150 to 1 third in the Irish Derby, is as low as 20 to 1 for the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot at the end of the month but O'Brien said yesterday no firm plans had yet been drawn up for the colt.
It's a different story with the St James's Palace Stakes victor Azamour, who will be stepped up to a mile and a quarter for his next start in the Juddmonte International at York next month.
Trainer John Oxx had mooted the possibility of Azamour staying at a mile for the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood but that plan has been shelved in favour of a hike in distance. Plans for the Aga Khan-owned colt after that include a possible clash with Grey Swallow in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
This evening's local action is again at Roscommon, where the talented Nina Carberry can again get the job done aboard Asian Maze in the bumper.
The Paddy Mullins-trained mare boasts the most eye-catching form with a two-length second to Liberty Flag at Gowran and that, plus Carberry's 7lb claim, makes her one to watch.
Aidin And Abetting reappears after scoring at Leopardstown on Saturday in the fillies' handicap. She is 5lb higher for that neck defeat of Florida Villas, but Davy Condon's claim is a major help. Dream Catch is dropped from a mile and a quarter to seven furlongs for the Castlerea Maiden but the four-year-old ran fourth to Agenda at the Curragh and looks spot on.
