Tomorrow's Juddmonte Beresford Stakes at the Curragh is the home feature of a triple-fixture Irish weekend but there is no doubt that today's main focus will be on the Group One action at Ascot where Aidan O'Brien is aiming to secure back-to-back victories in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
With last year's hero George Washington now likely to wait for next month's Champion Stakes, it is left to Excellent Art and Duke Of Marmalade, first and second in June's St James's Palace Stakes over the course and distance, to fly the Ballydoyle flag.
"The two of them are well and they've been very consistent this year," O'Brien said yesterday. "I don't think the step back to a mile will inconvenience Duke Of Marmalade and Excellent Art is in good form too."
Both three-year-olds face a tough task, however, against the Prix Du Moulin winner, Darjina, and Ramonti with whom the Godolphin team are hoping to secure a third Group One victory of the season.
O'Brien's Listen will be joined by her Moyglare Stud Stakes conqueror Saoirse Abu in the eight-runner Meon Valley Stud Fillies Mile where the Andre Fabre-trained Proviso bids to maintain her unbeaten record and her position at the top of the 1,000 Guineas betting.
Other Irish interest at Ascot today centres on the O'Brien juvenile Achill Island in the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes while Eamon Tyrell's Impetious goes in the opening Listed race.
The focus will then switch tonight to New York where Alexander Tango will represent Tommy Stack in the $600,000 Flower Bowl Invitational at Belmont Park.
"This is the Breeders' Cup before the Breeders' Cup," is the comment of Christophe Clement who trains one of the Irish filly's opponents, the Beverly D winner Royal Highness, and Alexander Tango faces a tough task in becoming just the second Irish winner of the race after Dimitrova in 2003.
Both Dermot Weld and Aidan O'Brien are doubly represented in tomorrow's Beresford Stakes where the unbeaten Bruges will have his first start for his new owner, Sheikh Hamdan.
Curtain Call, runner-up in the Futurity to New Approach, represents Jessica Harrington in this Group Two while top-flight juvenile form is also tested by Lizard Island who was second to Rio de La Plata in the Champagne at Goodwood.
That performance contributed to a 113 rating that makes Lizard Island a major player this weekend but although the official figures say otherwise, this may end up being a big pay-day for David Wachman's Lisvale.
The long-time favourite going into the Goffs Million, Lisvale ran a decent fourth to Luck Money on ground that was quicker than anything the Danehill Dancer colt had encountered before.
Conditions will probably be much more to his liking this time, as will the mile trip, and Lisvale can add to his course maiden victory here over the Derby weekend.
Carribean Sunset represents Dermot Weld in the race named after his father, the CL Weld Park Stakes, and while the maiden upped her performance in the Goffs fillies million to be third, she still looks to have a tough task in a competitive Group Three.
Toirneach beat a progressive colt in Greatwallofchina over the course and distance earlier this month and can emerge best of the Jim Bolger team.
John Oxx wouldn't like conditions to get appreciably softer ahead of Taralaya's attempt on the mile-and-six handicap but a test of stamina will be ideal for this fast-improving filly.
Conditions will be a lot quicker at Navan today compared to the Listowel festival where Ursumman was totally unsuited by the ground in the Kerry National.
The two and a half miles of the conditions chase will also be in his favour and the eight-year-old can secure the €25,000 prize.
Tony McCoy travels to Clonmel tomorrow and should have a major chance of landing the featured novice chase on board the Galway Plate third Cool Running.
