Kastoria will fly the flag for Ireland in Toronto this weekend as the Canadian International kicks off a run of major world racing events that also includes the Breeders' Cup and the Melbourne Cup early next month.
Aidan O'Brien yesterday all but committed George Washington to an attempt on the Breeders' Cup Classic on dirt at Churchill Downs as well as nominating three other likely runners for what are now described as thoroughbred racing's world championships.
With Yeats en route to Australia for the Melbourne Cup on November 7th, the champion trainer will be heavily represented on both sides of the equator in the coming weeks but it is John Oxx who has taken up the challenge in Canada this Sunday.
The Curragh trainer confirmed yesterday that Kastoria, conqueror of Yeats in last month's Irish St Leger, will tackle the Pattison Canadian International where her opposition is set to include the British hopes Blue Monday and last year's Irish Leger winner, Collier Hill, as well as the former Breeders' Cup winner Better Talk Now from the USA.
"She is in good form over there at the moment and she will be our first runner at Woodbine since Timarida won the EP Taylor Stakes in 1995," Oxx said.
"They are describing the ground as good but ground isn't really a big issue with her. Only if it was very soft might it be a problem."
Michael Kinane has already tasted success in the big Woodbine event with Ballingarry in 2002 and he will again team up with the Aga Khan-owned mare who will also face last year's winner, the Moyglare Stud owned-Relaxed Gesture.
Aidan O'Brien has run six horses without success in the Breeders' Cup Classic to date and it now looks almost certain George Washington will be number seven at Churchill Downs. George Washington has been taken out of most bookmaker lists for the Mile event and O'Brien said yesterday: "It's looking like he will run in the Classic although it's still not absolutely definite."
He added: "At this moment, Scorpion will probably run in the Turf and Aussie Rules and Ad Valorem are in the Mile. I would doubt Holy Roman Emperor would go in the Juvenile."
Holy Roman Emperor has been given an official handicap rating of 122 for his gallant effort when runner-up to Teofilo in last weekend's Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket with the winner likely to be crowned Europe's top two- year-old of the year with a mark of 123.
Ireland's handicapper Gary O'Gorman said yesterday: "Teofilo and Holy Roman Emperor look the two best colts around and I'm confident those ratings will hold up."
Of course Teofilo may not be finished for the season yet with trainer Jim Bolger outlining plans for a possible tilt at the Criterium International at Sanit-Cloud later in the month if ground conditions are suitable.
However, the Cashmans firm in Cork are already looking forward to Round Three of the Teofilo-Holy Roman Emperor rivalry and yesterday issued match betting on their next clash with the Bolger runner, who is already 2-0 up, rated a 4 to 6 favourite.
Holy Roman Emperor is the outsider of the pair at 6 to 5 and they could end up meeting again in next May's 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
The more immediate Group One focus, however, will be on Newbury this Saturday for the Racing Post Trophy where Eagle Mountain and the Royal Lodge winner Admiralofthefleet head an entry of six Aidan O'Brien horses among the 23 entries left in.
O'Brien has won the Group One mile event four times already but he is unlikely to finalise plans for this year's raiding party until later in the week.
