RACING: It might be 10 days away but the all-powerful Godolphin team are already aiming at, and planning for, yet another success in the Baileys Irish Champion Stakes with Doyen.
The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes winner had an important work out at Newmarket yesterday morning and passed the test with flying colours.
On the strength of it Doyen remains a 5 to 4 favourite for the €1 million Leopardstown feature race.
"Frankie (Dettori) rode him and it was his last big piece of work before the Champion Stakes. We were absolutely delighted with him and Frankie says he seems to have done really well since Ascot," said the Godolphin spokesman Simon Crisford yesterday.
Sheikh Mohammed's elite outfit have a remarkable record in the Champion Stakes, having won it five times in the last 10 years.
The hit-list includes some of Godolphin's biggest names like Swain (1998), Daylami (1999) and Fantastic Light (2001.)
"The timing of the race is absolutely critical because it suits everyone's programme so well," said Crisford.
"It looks like probably being the race of the year, as it has been for the last few years, and we certainly have the height of respect for the opposition."
That opposition looks like including the Irish Derby winner Grey Swallow and the St James's Palace Stakes hero Azamour from Ireland as well a possible star from France in the shape of the Prix Jean Prat winner Bago.
Crisford dismissed any concerns about Doyen dropping back to a mile and a quarter from the King George distance of a mile and a half but did reveal that Godolphin are likely to use a pacemaker in the race.
The Newmarket-based team are the acknowledged masters of using pacemakers and Crisford said: "It is entirely possible we could run Vespone as an insurance policy so that the pace is honest and generous."
He added: "The 10-furlong trip is not a worry as he has lots of natural pace and a tremendous turn of foot which is the key to him. Ten furlongs should suit him, especially at a track like Leopardstown."
The big race was promoted in Dublin yesterday where it was also reported that the double-Guineas heroine Attraction could start in the Group 1 Coolmore Matron Stakes along with the Sussex Stakes winner Soviet Song.
Aidan O'Brien has a strong entry in the Champion Stakes but no decision has been made on whether Powerscourt will take his chance.
One likely absentee however is the double Coronation Cup winner Warssan who has been committed to running in Sunday's Grosser Preis von Baden in Germany.
IRISH CHAMPION STAKES BETTING: (Paddy Power): 5-4 Doyen, 4 Grey Swallow, 5 Azamour & Mister Monet (war), 6 Bago, 8 Rakti, 12 Powerscourt, 14 Warssan, 16 Bar.
