Dalakhani's grip on tomorrow's Budweiser Irish Derby appears to be getting suitably watertight as not one but possibly two major problems threaten the participation of his major rival, Alamshar. Brian O'Connor reports.
The John Oxx-trained colt, owned, like Dalakhani, by the Aga Khan, has suffered a recurrence of a back problem and a decision on him running in the 1.3 million classic won't be taken until tomorrow morning.
"It will be a late decision on Sunday because we have two question marks on the horizon," Oxx said yesterday.
"There is the problem with his back, which he has gone and done again. But he also doesn't particularly like soft ground and we have had a lot of rain here."
It must have been his focus on Alamshar's physical difficulties that made the local trainer almost guilty of understatement in his weather assessment.
Much of the rest of the country may have sweltered in heat yesterday, but the Curragh was hit with 11.2mm of overnight rain and then had to take 8mm more in the morning.
A surface that was officially good to firm on Thursday had turned into "yielding" by last night, although the actual strip of ground used for the Irish Derby was described as good.
"Alamshar's action wasn't 100 per cent in a blow-out this morning," Oxx said. "He is getting a good bit of physio, but we will have to wait until the last minute to see if it loosens up.
"If he pulls out perfect on Sunday and the going is on the slow side of good then he would run. But he can't run if his back is not right and, even if it is, soft ground would possibly keep him out anyway," he added.
Following on the non-appearance of Epsom Derby winner Kris Kin, a no-show by Alamshar - and the forecast is unsettled - would have the Curragh authorities manfully stiffening their upper lips.
In such circumstances, opposition to the unbeaten French superstar would then rely almost totally on the massed ranks of the Aidan O'Brien team.
The Ballydoyle trainer, chasing a third Irish Derby in a row, has committed a record six horses to the race, including The Great Gatsby, runner up to Kris Kin at Epsom and now the choice of champion jockey Michael Kinane.
Brian Boru had been Kinane's choice at Epsom, but Jamie Spencer takes over on that colt, who will wear a tongue tie for the first time.
"Brian Boru didn't take to Epsom and his preparation for it wasn't ideal anyway," O'Brien said yesterday. "We're hoping a true gallop on Sunday will bring out the best in him."
He added: "Powerscourt has been working well, but ideally we would have liked to get a prep run into him. However, Handel has improved more than we expected from his last run and he has won over the trip."
That constitutes a relatively upbeat bulletin from O'Brien, but even the Ballydoyle six, and the lone interloper to the Aga Khan/Coolmore party, Napper Tandy, look like fighting a losing battle.
Be it soft or fast ground, Dalakhani has answered every question put to him and still managed to give the impression the best is yet to come.
To do that and win three Group Ones, including the French Derby, is some achievement, but the evidence is mounting that in Dalakhani we might just be watching an exceptional racehorse.
Mind you, there is a school of thought that suggests the grey colt with the laid back attitude and searing acceleration has been over-rated.
The argument is based on his having beaten the same horse, Super Celebre, twice, with the only tie-in form to outside France being Alberto Giacometti's third in the Prix Lupin.
It's true Alberto Giacometti hasn't exactly set the world alight since, but sometimes there is a big difference between the evidence of the form book and the evidence of one's eyes.
For one brief moment in the Jockey Club, Dalakhani's rider had to get serious and ask for everything. It was the first time such a question had been popped at the colt and, for a split second, he looked puzzled. Then towering ability kicked in.
It's just 1 to 2 with Paddy Power about Dalakhani repeating that kick, but tomorrow could be one of those days when any price is a good price.
