RACING: Aidan O'Brien is set to try and restart his plundering of Europe's top two-year-old races with Miguel Cervantes at Newbury tomorrow.
The Danzig colt, winner of his sole start to date at the Curragh in late July, is being lined up for Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes over six furlongs.
The Ballydoyle trainer entered eight horses for the Group Two contest but said yesterday: "Miguel Cervantes is the possible for the Mill Reef. Mick (Kinane) will ride."
The crack juvenile team at the yard has been under the influence of the coughing bug that ravaged the three year olds through August.
However, the indications are getting better with Miguel Cervantes maybe not being the only Ballydoyle two-year-old travelling.
"There are a couple of maidens entered up at Newbury but we won't decide about them until tomorrow," O'Brien added.
Dermot Weld declared yesterday that no final decision about whether or not Vinnie Roe will run in the Melbourne Cup has been taken.
However, he did say that his double Group Three winner Dress To Thrill is "slightly more likely" to run in Newmarket's Sun Chariot Stakes next month rather than Keeneland's Queen Elizabeth Cup.
Weld's stable jockey, Pat Smullen, still heads the betting for the jockeys' championship but Cashmans have reported a plunge on the former champion John Murtagh.
He was on the 50 mark for the season yesterday morning with Mick Kinane starting off the afternoon in the lead on 58 winners. However, Murtagh was still backed yesterday from 7 to 1 to 3 to 1 to regain the title.
Smullen remains favourite but has drifted to evens while Kinane is a 6 to 4 shot.
There are just 52 declared for the six races at Clonmel this afternoon with the forecast "firm" ground decimating the fields.
Weld runs the expensive Ballyconnell in the three mile novice chase and the going will be a lot different to when this one ran second to Thari at Galway last time.
Thari won easily that day but there was a lot to like about Ballyconnell's jumping and the winner is probably very smart.
Ruby Walsh can hit the 40 mark for the new jumps season with a double on Halfaquid and Near Dunleer.
Halfaquid has only three to beat in the first handicap hurdle and just a pound more than it carried to victory at Kilbeggan while Near Dunleer could emerge best in the biggest field of the day.
Norman Williamson is an interesting booking for the Charlie Swan-trained African Waters in the mares chase.
The €30,000 Tattersalls (Ireland) Open Race went for export at Fairyhouse yesterday when Oh So Rosie was produced with a devastating late run by Michael Kinane. The Danehill Dancer juvenile was bought for just £650 across the road at the Tattersalls sales ring last September, and that purchase now looks a snip after recording her third victory.
Kinane bided his time and Stan Moore's charge stretched out well from the furlong pole to overcome long-time leader Jemmy John by a length and a half.
Carrick-On-Suir trainer Pat Flynn saddled a 62 to 1 double, highlighted by a first win for 16-year-old Dungarvan rider Richie Kiely aboard Marko Jadeo in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap. The gelding shot clear inside the final furlong to beat Europaea by four lengths. Flynn's Cepangie, available at 16 to 1 in morning prices and sent off a 6 to 1 co-favourite, landed the touch in the Garristown Handicap.
