RACING NEWS ROUND-UP:STEINBECK LOOKS set to be Aidan O'Brien's number one contender in Saturday's Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas as the champion trainer pursues a seventh success in Ireland's first Classic of the season.
O’Brien has nine of the 20 entries remaining in the 2,000 Guineas after yesterday’s forfeit stage, including the Group One-winning two-year-old and Epsom Derby contender Jan Vermeer.
However, the trainer said yesterday: “Jan Vermeer is in the Gallinule Stakes the following day and it is very possible that he might run in that race instead. But no final decisions are likely until later in the week.
“Steinbeck doesn’t have that option and we have been looking at the Guineas for him. He is just ready to start. We’ve all seen what’s happening with our horses in their first run so that is an issue.”
Despite many Ballydoyle horses appearing to improve markedly for their first starts of the season, and Steinbeck not having run since finishing fourth in last autumn’s Dewhurst Stakes, Paddy Power have installed the colt as their 11 to 4 favourite for Saturday.
They rate the English Guineas third Canford Cliffs a 3 to 1 second best with another Ballydoyle hope Fencing Master rated a 5 to 1 shot. Boylesports make Steinbeck a 5 to 2 favourite.
O’Brien also appeared yesterday to be leaning towards the Guineas rather than the Gallinule for the regally-bred Viscount Nelson but described all nine of his entries as possible starters in the Classic.
The champion trainer is also set to run Fame And Glory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and the pair of Famous and Remember When in Sunday’s 1,000 Guineas during a bumper Group One weekend at headquarters.
Tommy Stack’s team also have a Guineas double in their sights with the unbeaten Lolly For Dolly set to be a €32,500 supplementary entry into the 1,000 Guineas at today’s forfeit stage and Noll Wallop an intended starter in Saturday’s 2,000. The in-form team produced Noll Wallop to win a trial at Leopardstown in March over a mile and he will remain at the trip this weekend.
“The Irish Derby will be his next race after the Guineas and I’ve always thought he would stay a mile and a half. Whether he has enough speed for a mile in such company we will see at the weekend,” Stack’s son and assistant, Fozzy, said yesterday.
“I’m not worried about the ground for the colt or for Lolly For Dolly either. She is going to be supplemented and we will work Cnocandancer in the morning before deciding if she will run in the Guineas,” he added.
Jim Bolger has three hopefuls for the 2,000 Guineas, including the Tetrarch winner Free Judgement and his weekend scorer Shintoh, while John Oxx will be represented by the Loughbrown winner Keredari.
However, there are five cross-channel entries remaining in the 2,000 Guineas including the Newmarket fourth Xtension who will attempt to reverse form from earlier this month with Canford Cliffs.
“The ground at the Curragh looks like being good with a warmer front coming so we’re looking forward to travelling over,” Xtension’s trainer Clive Cox said. “He proved at Newmarket a mile is a pleasing distance to him and a stiff track like the Curragh should suit him. The three in front of him at Newmarket all had the benefit of a run. Hopefully he will improve a little bit.”
The prospect of decent ground is also a plus for Mick Channon ahead of a likely attempt by Music Show on Sunday’s fillies’ Classic.
“Unless there is a lot of rain she is going to Ireland with Ryan Moore riding,” said Bruce Raymond, racing manager to Music Show’s owner, Jabar Abdullah. “She has improved quite a bit since Newmarket, not fitness wise, but physically and in her wellbeing. She was very late coming in her coat and obviously once she got that she has felt a bit better.”
Saturday’s main support event at the Curragh, where the ground on the straight course was good yesterday, will be the Group Three Weatherbys Greenlands Stakes over six furlongs.
A five-strong British entry includes the Dandy Nicholls-trained Regal Parade while Aidan O’Brien’s list of hopefuls include the Phoenix Stakes winner Alfred Nobel.
