Kieren Fallon has enjoyed a getting-to-know-you work-out on the unbeaten classic prospect Myboycharlie ahead of the colt's step up to Group One company in Sunday's Darley Prix Morny at Deauville.
Myboycharlie has been steadily backed for next year's 2,000 Guineas ever since his seven-length defeat of Tuscan Evening in the Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh last month which added to an impressive debut victory also at the Curragh.
But he will be having his first run for John Magnier's Coolmore Stud syndicate at Deauville after the recent deal that sees Myboycharlie change ownership but remain in Tommy Stack's Co Tipperary yard.
A result of that deal is that Coolmore's number one rider Fallon will take over from Wayne Lordan in the hot seat for the Morny which could see an intriguing international clash between some of the best juveniles on view so far in Europe this season.
As well as Myboycharlie, and the other Irish entry, Eddie Lynam's Domingues, the Norfolk and July Stakes winner, Winker Watson, is set to try and secure back to back Morny wins for his trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam while France's best two-year-old Natagora is also due to run.
Pascal Bary's filly landed the Prix Robert Papin at Deauville on her last start but her presence isn't preventing the Stack team from sending Myboycharlie to France for the weekend.
"He is a definite starter. He has proven form on testing ground but we believe he will be better on good," said Stack's son "Fozzie" yesterday who also confirmed that Fallon rode the horse in a piece of work on Tuesday.
"Everything has gone to plan since the last day. There have been no hold-ups and we couldn't be happier with him. Mr Magnier has had horses here in the past so there's no extra pressure about him buying the horse," he added.
The ground at Deauville was officially good yesterday but a showery forecast for the rest of the week could see a change in going conditions ahead of just the second Group One pot for two-year-olds in Europe this season.
A total of 18 entries remain in Sunday's Leopardstown feature, the Group Three Desmond Stakes, including the highly-rated Haatef from Kevin Prendergast's stable as well as pair of British possibilities in Zafonical Star and Bahia Breeze.
Sunday's other Group Three race, the Ballyroan Stakes, has 17 left in it with six of those coming from Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle stable.
They include the Coronation Cup runner-up Septimus as well as the former ante-post favourite for the Epsom Derby, Macarthur. Both horses, however, are also among the possibles for O'Brien's team for next week's Ebor festival at York.
Conditions at Leopardstown look sure to be testing with the going yesterday described as "soft to heavy" after 16mms of overnight rain. More rain is forecast to hit the course on Saturday but that is expected to clear early on Sunday morning.
The weather claimed yesterday's scheduled card for Gowran Park when a deluge resulted in an early-morning cancellation of the fixture which was due to host the Listed Hurry Harriet Stakes.
Tramore's July festival kicks off this evening with un-seasonal soft ground being forecast. That shouldn't be a problem in the mile and a half handicap for last week's Sligo winner Lady Causeway whose attempt at a quick follow at Ballinrobe on Monday was scuppered by a stumble at a vital stage.
Ruby Walsh teams up with Joe Crowley in the juvenile hurdle and El Cerro, a Killarney winner on the flat, can make a successful debut in the jumping game.
The Spoonplayer ran third to Port Jeff in last year's renewal of the lady riders maiden and can do better this time in what looks a slightly weaker race.
