Aidan O'Brien wound up his European campaign for 2006 with a tally of 14 Group One victories, but the champion trainer isn't finished for the year just yet and Ivan Denisovich will attempt to notch up another top-flight success in Los Angeles on Sunday night.
The former July Stakes winner failed to make the cut for the Breeders' Cup Mile earlier in the month but is now back in the US and getting ready for this weekend's Grade One Hollywood Derby. The $500,000 feature is the centrepiece of a turf racing weekend at Hollywood Park which will also include Friday's $400,000 Citation Handicap and Sunday's Matriarch Stakes.
Aidan O'Brien confirmed yesterday that the top American jockey John Velazquez will be on board Ivan Denisovich in the Derby, a partnership that has already finished runner-up in last summer's Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park in Chicago.
"Ivan Denisovich came back after not getting a run at the Breeders' Cup but he is out in California already," the Ballydoyle trainer said. Ivan Denisovich, who is three from 13 in his career so far, last appeared in September's controversial Queen Elizabeth II Stakes when last of eight behind his stable companion George Washington.
His likely opposition in an attempt at a first Group One success includes the top American horse Showing Up as well as the leading dirt performer Brother Derek who was ahead of George Washington when fifth in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.
O'Brien's 2006 may not be over this weekend either as Scorpion, who ran behind Red Rocks in the Breeders' Cup Turf on just his second start of the year, could travel to the Far East for the Hong Kong Vase over a mile and a half early next month. "He may go. He is in good shape after his last race," the trainer added. "The plan then hopefully is for him to race on next year."
Closer to home on Saturday will be the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle where last season's Punchestown champion winner Macs Joy will make his first start of this term in the Grade One contest. Jessica Harrington confirmed yesterday that her top-flight hurdler, who was runner-up to Brave Inca at Cheltenham, will make the trip where he will be ridden by his regular jockey Barry Geraghty.
"At this stage Macs Joy is a definite traveller. He wasn't ready to run in the Morgiana at Punchestown. He needed an extra week. That's why he is running there," she said.
A total of 15 entries remain in the Fighting Fifth including the 2004 winner Harchibald, who is likely to run in the race again after missing out on last weekend's Morgiana due to ground conditions.
"He will work in the morning and, all going well, the plan is to run. The ground over there is good at the moment and that will be suitable for him," said Harchibald's trainer Noel Meade.
Colm Murphy yesterday gave an all-clear report to Brave Inca after the champion hurdler's comeback third behind Iktitaf in the Morgiana.
However, nothing definite has been decided about where he runs next. "He has come out of it extremely well. I'm very happy with him. He needed a run big time, especially on that ground, and the conditions just found out his fitness. But he wasn't beaten far by Iktitaf and I think he ran a cracker," the Co Wexford trainer said.
"I'm not sure where he will go next. He is in the Hatton's Grace and the Bula (Boylesports International) and he could go for either of them," he added.
The Willie Mullins pair of Bothar Na and Homer Wells, as well as Southern Vic from Ted Walsh's yard, are the Irish hopefuls among the 27 entries remaining in Saturday's Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.
All three also have the option of Sunday's Troytown Chase at Navan and early indications are that Southern Vic is more likely to take up the Irish option.
