O'Brien targets York

The all-conquering Ballydoyle team will allow the rest to fight over Sunday's Prix Jacques Le Marois but are preparing a formidable…

The all-conquering Ballydoyle team will allow the rest to fight over Sunday's Prix Jacques Le Marois but are preparing a formidable team for all three Group One highlights at York next week.

Karsavina, third to Lailani in the Irish Oaks, is being aimed at the Yorkshire Oaks and will be joined by Black Minnaloushe and Bach in the Juddmonte International as well as the brilliant sprinter Mozart, who is lined up for top-flight action in the Nunthorpe.

"We are also looking at Rock Of Gibralter (Railway Stakes winner) for the Gimcrack and Sophisticat in the Lowther," added O'Brien, who reported Johannesburg to be in good form after his impressive victory at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Along with King Charlemagne's Prix Maurice de Gheest success, it brought O'Brien's Group One total for the year to 11 and King Charlemagne's contribution to that tally could be far from finished.

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"We will look at Haydock (Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup) and maybe races like the Prix de la Foret for him," said O'Brien, who confirmed yesterday he will not have a runner in the Marois. Instead he will wait to return to Deauville with Johannesburg for the Prix Morny on Sunday week.

It's far from Group One material at the third leg of the Tramore festival but Carrick-on-Suir-based Pat Flynn won't care about that if his entries continue the winning form shown by stable companions Boley Lass and Wacky Sport in recent weeks.

Those two victories have brought Flynn's flat total, up to last night, to five and a number of his horses hold chances to add to that. Catch The Dragon goes over flights in the second maiden hurdle and will be a popular fancy to score while Ballintry Guest could be a value choice in the two mile handicap.

Rainbow Realm is one of four horses rated on 65 in the mile-and-a-half race but will need to improve on a below par performance behind Celtic Lore at Galway.

Kono ran a half-length second to Packiefromathleague in Roscommon's three-year-old hurdle and it should be a natural progression for Ruby Walsh's mount to pick up the Tramore version.

Walsh and trainer Willie Mullins should also be on the mark courtesy of Mallaca Hill, fourth to River Pilot at Galway in the Beginners Chase and Joy's Darling looks the pick in the last.

Steaming Home could represent Dermot Weld in the Peugeot Lowther Stakes at York on Thursday week. The American-bred filly got off the mark at the Curragh last month. "Steaming Home got beaten a neck at Royal Ascot and would be a possible for the Lowther Stakes," said Weld.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column