IRISH DERBY NEWS:NEWMARKET TRAINER Michael Bell will be represented by Coordinated Cut in Sunday's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby but the current good weather could rule out his top filly Sariska from returning to the Curragh for Saturday's Audi Pretty Polly Stakes.
Last year’s brilliant dual-Oaks heroine is among 18 fillies left in the Group One Pretty Polly after yesterday’s forfeit stage but ground conditions look like preventing Sariska from accompanying Coordinated Cut to Ireland.
“The opposition are worthy of respect but it is all academic if conditions are against us and I think they will be up against it to produce good ground. We are keen to avoid the word firm in the ground description,” her trainer said yesterday.
Watering was continuing at the Curragh yesterday where the going was officially “good to firm” and that policy could be in force right up to Saturday night ahead of the €1.25 million Derby.
“There is some broken weather forecast for the middle of the week but we are told there won’t be a lot of rainfall, maybe 4 to 5 mms,” said the Curragh manager Paul Hensey yesterday.
“If the forecast is accurate we could find ourselves watering again into Saturday night.”
That may prevent an appearance by Sariska but Bell is keen to give Coordinated Cut another Derby shot after feeling that the Montjeu colt was unsuited by the Epsom track when well behind Workforce.
“He is an intended runner and the ground won’t be an issue with him. Jamie Spencer will ride,” Bell said.
The Derby picture will be considerably clearer after today’s forfeit stage which could see the King Edward VII winner Monterosso supplemented into the race while Godolphin are also considering the classic for their Dante flop Chabal.
One colt who won’t be lining up is Tommy Stack’s Noll Wallop who will not be seen out until next month after disappointing in the Irish Guineas behind Canford Cliffs.
“He started coughing after the Guineas so you can draw a line through that. He took a couple of weeks to get over it so we decided to wait for the Royal Whip at the end of July. We wouldn’t have been able to get him ready for the Derby,” Stack’s son, Fozzy, said yesterday.
The Stack team have also left the Athasi winner Lolly For Dolly in Saturday’s Pretty Polly but she is unlikely to line up against a high-class field that could yet include the Oaks third Remember When as well as John Gosden’s High Heeled who was third to Fame And Glory and Sariska on her last start in the Coronation Cup.
Gosden won last year’s Pretty Polly with Dar Re Mi.
Tonight’s home action is at Ballinrobe and it may be worth waiting until the concluding fillies maiden for Wayne Lordan’s mount Ballydonnell Drive.
The jockey’s presence on her back looks significant considering David Wachman has Lady L in the race and a return to the form that saw Ballydonnell Drive only narrowly beaten by Shareen at Killarney in May would see her with a major shout.
Pat Smullen is always a jockey to have on your side around this tricky course and Snap Alam could upset Knight Eagle in the nine-furlong conditions event.
