TOKEN GESTURE was a surprise supplementary entry yesterday for Sunday's Budweiser Irish Derby at the Curragh, along with Strawberry Roan. The connections of both fillies splashed out £70,000 each yesterday to run in the big race but while Strawberry Roan's entry was expected, Token Gesture, the winner of a Listed race at Gowran last Sunday and originally targeted at the Irish Oaks, will be an unexpected mount for Michael Kinane.
Token Gesture's trainer Dermot Weld said yesterday: "It's a bold decision but after consulting with owner Walter Haefner, we have decided to run her. If she gets placed in an Irish Derby it will enhance her stud value dramatically and there is excellent prize money for the placed horses. I think she has a realistic chance of doing that."
Weld will also run his French Derby failure Casey Tibbs on Sunday and with Kinane on Token Gesture, Pat Shanahan, winner of the race last year on Zagreb, will take over Casey Tibbs.
Aidan O'Brien had his own surprise card to play yesterday when he confirmed that the Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Desert King will join his other hopefuls Johann Cryuff and Strawberry Roan in Sunday's Derby.
Christy Roche will ride Desert King, a subsequent disappointment in the St James' Palace Stakes at Ascot, and while jockey plans for the other horses have yet to be finalised, it's understood that Frankie Dettori could end up on Strawberry Roan if the charismatic Italian is not required to ride for Sheikh Mohammed at Doncaster on the same day.
O'Brien said yesterday: "All the horses are well. The step up in trip may suit Strawberry Roan but we will see. The ground should not be a problem for her."
The Curragh manager Brian Kavanagh reports the going at the Curragh to be currently yielding and with rain forecast, he believes there will be a definite cut in the ground for Sunday's race.
"I'm delighted with how the Derby is shaping up because it didn't look promising with Benny The Dip, Entrepreneur and Reams Of Verse all being withdrawn," Kavanagh added.
Epsom Derby runner up Silver Patriarch still heads the ante-post market for the 12 horses left in and pleased his trainer John Dunlop with an impressive workout at Arundel yesterday morning.
"All went well. It was a nice piece of work and it's all systems go for Sunday," Dunlop said. He is looking for his third Irish Derby success after Shirley Heights (1978) and Salsabil (1990).
In contrast to last year when nine British trained horses ran in the Irish Derby, only Barry Hills' The Fly will accompany Silver Patriarch from across channel. The trainer's son Michael will ride The Fly who finished fifth at Epsom.
There is also likely to be a French presence on Sunday as Andre Fabre is keen to allow Loup Sauvage take his chance. Runner up to Daylami in the French 2,000 Guineas, Loup Sauvage will be ridden by Olivier Peslier, successful for Fabre on Winged Love two years ago.
Last year's winner Dance Design heads the intended runners for Saturday's Pretty Polly Stakes while the South African champion London News is a fascinating entry for the American Bowl International Stakes on the same day.
Bijou d'Inde, who has been slow to recover from an injury the colt picked up in Dubai, may not be seen out until Newmarket's Champion Stakes in mid-October, connections revealed yesterday.
Mark Johnston, Bijou d'Inde's trainer said: "It is a slow progression for him and I doubt if there is much chance of his racing again before the Champion Stakes. If he doesn't make it in time for that, I should think he will be retired to stud."
