RACING: Dermot Weld yesterday described as "unlikely" that his star four-year-old Grey Swallow will travel to York next week but he did open up the intriguing idea of a possible clash with the Derby winners Motivator and Shamardal in next month's Eclipse.
Grey Swallow's sole start of 2005 yielded a victory over Bago and Azamour in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh and although the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at the end of July remains a priority Weld hasn't ruled out a race before then. "It's too soon to know for definite what we will take to York but I would say it is unlikely that Grey Swallow will go for the Prince Of Wales Stakes," the Curragh trainer said.
"The King George remains his main summer target but we will have to make a decision about whether or not we will go for the Eclipse in the meantime," he added.
Already the Godolphin team have outlined plans for the Prix du Jockey Club winner Shamardal to run at Sandown at the start of July while an immediate post-race comment by Michael Bell about Motivator going to the Curragh for the Irish Derby next has been stepped back from slightly in favour of an alternative drop back to a mile and a quarter in the Eclipse.
One Weld-trained star that remains on course for the Royal Ascot at York meeting, however, is Vinnie Roe who will have a last attempt at winning tomorrow week's Gold Cup.
"He is in good form," Weld confirmed about the four-time Irish Leger winner who was just beaten by Royal Rebel in the 2002 Gold Cup. "He likes nice ground so we hope it won't be firm."
David Wachman also indicated yesterday that Indesatchel, an unlucky runner-up to Shamardal in the French Guineas, will travel to York for the St James's Palace Stakes if the ground conditions are suitable.
"He will run if the going is not too hard," said Wachman who also plans to run his star fillies Damson and Luas Line in the Group One Coronation Stakes.
Aidan O'Brien is holding fire until later in the week before outlining which of his Ballydoyle team will travel to York. The unbeaten Guineas winner, Footstepsinthesand, remains a likely starter, however, in the James's Palace which is the opening day highlight.
