John Oxx pitches both Alafzara (7.10pm) and Rightway (8.15pm) into action at Galway this evening but the Curragh trainer could have to do without his star filly My Titania for the rest of this season.
Saturday’s Nassau Stakes at Goodwood had been mooted as an option for the former Classic hopeful after she finished third in a Group Two at the Curragh recently but My Titania picked up a knee injury in that race.
Oxx has reported: “We will have to see if she can recover in time to race again this season or how soon she can race again. She looked like a winner two down at the Curragh but didn’t pick up as expected. But that is probably the explanation for that.”
There are two options from the Oxx stable for Thursday’s black type event at Galway, the Listed Arthur Guinness Corrib Stakes, with Royal Memory and Stars So Bright among the entries still in the seven-furlong event.
Big race
The JP McManus team are chasing a fourth Galway Plate success in five years and the owner’s racing manager,
Frank Berry
, said he expects Tony McCoy to be on board either the topweight Kid Cassidy or the Tom Mullins-trained Alderwood in tomorrow’s big race.
Final declarations for the €200,000 highlight will be made this morning and Berry anticipates the McManus colours will be carried by a handful of runners.
"The ground looks plenty quick enough there but I would expect if they scope alright that Kid Cassidy, Alderwood, Quantativeasing, It's A Gimme and Competitive Edge will take their chance," Berry said. "I would imagine AP will be on Kid Cassidy or Alderwood, and he rides Thomas Edison in the Hurdle on Thursday."
Barry Geraghty is leaving it as late as possible before deciding on how he plans to break his big-race duck at Galway this week.
The legendary rider has failed to hit the mark in both the Plate and Thursday’s €250,000 Hurdle during an illustrious career to date and said last evening: “I’ve been placed in the hurdle a few times, and missed a winner in Cuan Na Grai (2006) when I got broke up. There are a few options but I’m not sure yet what I’ll ride in those races.”
