RACING: Vinnie Roe looks a more likely starter in Sunday's Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown than his Melbourne Cup-winning stable companion Media Puzzle.
Mark Weld, representing his father, Dermot, who is in Chicago supervising the training of Evolving Tactics for tomorrow night's Secretariat Stakes, confirmed the plan yesterday.
"Vinnie Roe is a more likely runner at this stage and it is more important to him with another crack at the St Leger in mind. Media Puzzle's main target is further away," he said.
Another Weld-trained star to return on Sunday is Refuse To Bend, who will have his first start since the Derby in the Group Three Desmond Stakes.
"He is in great form, and while we wouldn't want it firm, I am sure the Leopardstown watering system will make the ground suitable. After all, it was similar ground when he won the Guineas," Weld said.
"It will be the first big day of the autumn schedule and it would be great to see the two of them come back with a win," he added.
The going at Leopardstown yesterday was "good to firm" and the authorities there are hopeful of keeping it like that to Sunday.
Racing manager Tom Burke said: "We were watering on Wednesday throughout the day, the same today and we will keep going until Sunday. I would be confident of keeping it good to firm."
Weld's stable jockey, Pat Smullen, was in transit to Chicago yesterday where he will partner Evolving Tactics in the 10 furlong Grade One race over the same course and distance as when they won the American Derby last month.
Also flying the Irish flag in the Secretariat will be the Aidan O'Brien-trained France, who will be ridden by Michael Kinane. O'Brien and Kinane combined to win the race with Ciro in 2000.
After yesterday's postponement, the Tramore four-day festival gets under way this evening and Paul Carberry will be hopeful of getting off the mark with Move The News in the two and a half mile handicap hurdle.
The John Bowles-trained runner is coming back in distance from the three miles over which he won at Kilbeggan last time. Move The News is 10lb higher for that four-length victory, but could still be ahead of the game.
Another horse arriving here off a success is Edward O'Grady's Barningham, who beat one of tonight's rivals, Maraami, by six lengths at Wexford.
Barningham is 9lb higher but was a pretty convincing winner, and Pat Cosgrave takes a valuable 3lb off.
Local trainer Pat Flynn has a formidable Tramore record, and Eskeriada is an interesting runner in the mares bumper.
Bloom Of Tara has Davy Condon on his back in the nine furlong handicap, and firm going should be no problem to the Steve Mahon-trained runner.
