Aidan O'Brien's Epsom Derby favourite John F Kennedy is on track to make his first start of a potential classic campaign at Leopardstown on Sunday.
The champion trainer jointly holds the record for victories in the PW McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes on seven with Jim Bolger, famously winning the Group 3 in the past with future superstars such as Galileo and High Chaparral.
O’Brien has six of the eleven entries left in this year’s race, including both Jamaica and Giovanni Canaletto who also figure prominently in ante-post betting for June’s Derby.
However, John F Kennedy is a clear 4-1 favourite for flat racing’s “blue riband” event, which O’Brien has won five times, including when completing an unprecedented hat- trick with Australia last year.
The son of Galileo has been confirmed a Ballysax contender by his trainer, who could take the race record on his own at the weekend, although Bolger has two entries remaining, including Godolphin’s Eyrefield Stakes winner Parish Boy.
Dermot Weld also has two colts left in the race including the Curragh maiden winner Ashraf, but the trainer's principal focus on Sunday could be on Zawraq, 25-1 in some lists for both the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby, who is among fifteen entries for the Listed 2,000 Guineas Trial.
Impressed
Zawraq impressed in beating Sir Issac Newton in his sole career start to date in October last year.
The Group 1 winner Together Forever is already a 12-1 shot for the Newmarket Guineas.
Ground conditions at Leopardstown are currently soft, although with a dry forecast for much of the week ahead.
