Dermot Weld has potential Classic ambitions in France this weekend but before that could get his dual Irish Leger heroine Search For A Song into action at York.
The Moyglare Stud-owned mare has entries for both the Yorkshire Cup and the Savel Beg Levmoss Stakes at Leopardstown on Friday.
Search For A Song returned to racing this season with a second to Kyprios in Navan’s Vintage Crop Stakes last month and Weld is weighing up options for her next start.
“She is in both races on Friday and in a Group Two in France the week after. But at this stage I’d say she’s more likely to go to York for the Yorkshire Cup. She’s won there before [2019 Galtres Stakes] and likes the track,” he said on Monday.
A call on whether or not Weld’s exciting three-year-old Homeless Songs takes a shot at Sunday’s French 1,000 Guineas is likely to be made on Tuesday.
Weld skipped the English 1,000 with the filly who impressed in a Group Three trial at Leopardstown last month when beating Agartha.
Now he has to decide whether or not to head to Longchamp for this weekend’s Poule D’Essai des Pouliches or wait for the Irish 1,000 Guineas later this month.
“A decision is likely on Tuesday. We might wait for the Curragh. Ground is a factor. It has been 28 degrees in France and she wouldn’t want it too fast. But we will see,” Weld added.
Homeless Songs disputes favouritism for the French Guineas in some betting lists with Cachet who made all to win the Guineas at Newmarket.
Co Tipperary trainer Andy Slattery could have a pair of runners in the Savel Beg, which highlights Friday's Leopardstown programme.
Both Pineapple Express and Sunchart are in line for the Group Three heat.
“Pineapple Express ran a lovely race when third first time out in the Noblesse Stakes. You could expect her to come on for that normally but especially as she was in season, so to get that important black type was brilliant,” Slattery said.
“These are the type of races we have mapped out for her for the year because she’s rated 95 now, so her handicapping days are over. And she showed in Cork, she is not out of place in these kinds of races.
“She is stepping up two furlongs but I don’t think that will be a problem. In fact I think that she might be better for that too. We’ll know a lot more after Friday.
“The rain that’s coming will suit her and the same would apply to Sunchart.
“He ran really well when just touched off a head by Wordsworth in Gowran Park and I probably ran him back too quick in the Vintage Crop at Navan, because he just wasn’t fully fit to start the season off and had a hard race.
“He’s in good form now though. He has a couple of other options too and we’ll firm up the plans for him with the owner in the coming days,” he added.
