John Reid will ride Second Empire in Sunday's Group One Emirates Prix du Moulin at Longchamp. With Michael Kinane claimed to ride in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh on the same day, Reid has come in for the prized spare ride on the colt who bounced back to winning form in the Desmond Stakes.

"He's very well at the moment and goes to France. We've also got Kitza and Mempari in the race but Second Empire is the main one," said Aidan O'Brien yesterday.

There has been widespread speculation recently that Reid will lose his job as number one rider to Peter Chapple-Hyam but he will be renewing old links on Sunday, having ridden as stable jockey to Vincent O'Brien at Ballydoyle in the late 80's.

There are four Irish entries among the 11 still left in the Moulin with Charles O'Brien's Burden Of Proof making up the quartet. Second Empire, however, has proven Longchamp credentials, having won the Grand Criterium over the course and distance last Autumn and also the Group Three Prix des Chenes.

Second Empire will headline a hectic Group One weekend for Ballydoyle. Kinane will be on board Bianconi in Saturday's Stanley Leisure Haydock Sprint Cup where the July Cup winner Elnadim heads the market but will be absent from any of the five fillies that may represent O'Brien in the Moyglare Stud Stakes.

Sunspangled will lead the team but any or all of the following, Crystal Downs, Aspen Leaves, Rainbow Amethyst and Pink Coral, could join her.

Kinane has been claimed to ride Anthem Of Love for Dermot Weld while Edabiya is likely to represent John Oxx's stable.

Jermey Noseda's Cherry Hinton winner Wannabe Grand was yesterday confirmed a definite starter with Pat Eddery riding. "She worked well this morning and I was delighted with the way she went. We're just hoping for a little luck on Sunday," said Noseda.