Question marks might continue to hang over the participation of Hurricane Run in Saturday's Baileys Irish Champion Stakes but Mustameet's trainer, Kevin Prendergast, is hopeful of a bold show from his own local star whatever the opposition.
The in-form five-year-old is the only one of the nine possible runners in the weekend feature that has yet to be tested at Group One level but that hasn't stopped bookmakers rating Mustameet as low as 9 to 1 against some of the best middle-distance horses in Europe. Prendergast can understand why too and issued an upbeat bulletin on the horse who will be having the 19th start of his injury hit career on Saturday.
"The horse has won a Group Two, a Group Three and a Listed race so we're hoping he will rise to the occasion at the weekend. He beat a Group One winner in Chelsea Rose by three lengths on his last start and she was just behind Alexander Goldrun before that so we have to be hopeful," the veteran trainer said yesterday.
That defeat of Chelsea Rose in the Group Two Royal Whip earlier in the month was Mustameet's most impressive display yet in a season where he has won five of his seven races and quickly climbed the ratings ladder to a current mark of 117.
That still puts him almost a stone behind the Arc and King George winner Hurricane Run's best mark but Prendergast is pleased that Mustameet is now realising the potential he first showed as a juvenile. "People forget he was third to Azamour in the Beresford. Azamour went on while our horse has had plenty of little problems and injuries," he said. "I haven't been surprised this season because he has been sound. Maybe that's because he is maturing but this is the first full year he hasn't had problems.
"He is in very good shape for the Champion, couldn't be better. We're hoping to be concerned at the finish. It's hard to say you will beat what is supposed to be the best horse in the world but we are certainly hoping to compete," Prendergast added.
Whether or not Hurricane Run does take his chance has yet to be confirmed with Andre Fabre declaring he is prepared to switch the colt to Sunday's Prix Foy at Longchamp and a possible clash with his stable companion Shirocco. "I don't mind running the two," he reported. "It all depends on weather conditions. The forecast is not very clear."
Fabre ideally wants going with an ease for Hurricane Run and the Leopardstown authorities reported the ground to be just on the easy side of good yesterday after five mms of overnight rain. That was enough for Paddy Power to cut Hurricane Run to even money favourite for what would be the third Group One start of the colt's career on Saturday.
Hurricane Run has already landed the Tattersalls Gold Cup in May and also won last year's Irish Derby at the Curragh.
There was some support with Cashmans yesterday for Alexander Goldrun who is now a 9 to 2 shot even though the Jim Bolger-trained mare has an alternative engagement in the Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes on the same card.
Michael Kinane has the best Champion Stakes record of all having won the big race on six occasions but looks set to pick up the Matron Stakes ride on Flashy Wings. The Mick Channon-trained filly was runner-up to Nannina in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on her last start.
"Everything is spot on with Flashy and we're happy with her work," said Channon yesterday. "All we want is some decent ground. If it is soft or heavy, she won't run."
Kinane also could be a major player in the Group Three Bruce Betting Kilternan Stakes where the unbeaten Danak is one of a 19-strong entry that also includes Heliostatic and Aidan O'Brien's Frost Giant.
Jamie Spencer will be on board Ouija Board in the Champion Stakes and will maintain his partnership with the prolific Red Evie, winner of her last six starts, for Michael Bell in the Matron.
