Kieren Fallon looks set to kick off what may be a momentous September for the former British champion jockey by landing Group One glory tomorrow in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh.
Fallon is due to appear on race-fixing charges at the Old Bailey in London later this month, a date that has hung over the controversial figure ever since his attempt to have fraud charges against him dropped last June failed.
As if that isn't enough to occupy his mind, on the racing front the next few weeks are pretty important anyway as next weekend's Irish Champion Stakes at the Curragh begins in earnest the build up to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with Group One opportunities like the Irish St Leger and National Stakes along the way.
Ireland's most important race for juvenile fillies starts the top-flight action tomorrow and Fallon will be keen to atone for a less than brilliant effort on the Aidan O'Brien-trained filly Listen in her last start when the partnership were beaten in the Debutante Stakes.
The winner, Campfire Glow, looked to get a serious start on Listen who closed the gap to a neck at the line and in doing so actually did enough for some bookmakers to cut her classic odds for next year's 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Listen is as low as 10 to 1 for Newmarket already and a decisive defeat of eight opponents, including the Phoenix Stakes winner Saoirse Abu as well as Clive Brittain's €30,000 supplementary entry Albabilia, would see those odds cut even more.
Brittain yesterday pointed to Listen as a "solid favourite" but still fancied his chances and said: "The form of her Ascot maiden win got a helluva boost when Nahoodh won the Lowther and then she went and won her Group Three at Newmarket in the Sweet Solera. Nobody should be surprised at the progress she has made and she goes there with every chance."
The Newmarket trainer won the Moyglare 15 years ago with Sayyedati but in recent years it is O'Brien who has dominated with four of the last seven Moyglares going to Ballydoyle.
Listen was pitched into Listed level on her debut and won, and looked desperately unlucky on her last start. Improving ground conditions should not be an issue with her and she looks a worthy favourite.
Instead of O'Brien dominating numerically, this time the Jim Bolger camp throw three runners at the Group One with last weekend's Dundalk winner, Solas Na Greine, joining Saoirse Abu. She could do a lot better than her odds suggest, while the big race sponsors rely on Mad About You. But Listen looks good.
Dandy Man failed to take advantage of his best Group One opportunity to date when only third in the Nunthorpe at York but back on home turf that should be considerably quicker than at York, Ireland's top sprinter can get the better of Benbaun who has landed the last two renewals of the Group Three Flying Five.
Great Barrier Reef put in an excellent career debut at York when finding only Sir Gerry too good in the Gimcrack Stakes and the Mr Greeley colt can successfully impact on Group Three company in the Round Tower Stakes.
Absolute Image will find the ground conditions tomorrow a lot more suitable than the muck he had to run on in Tralee and the Weld horse would be a deserving winner of the Cambridgeshire.
Timarwa was a hot favourite to win a Listed race at Leopardstown on her last start but faded badly behind Baby Blue Eyes. Subsequently she was found to be "sore behind" and revenge could be on the cards for the Oxx filly now.
