News
Irish Guineas
Update: Parish Hall pulled for leg infection from Guineas and Derby. Power new betting favourite.
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Both Guineas in Ireland have very strong fields of fillies and colts competing on good ground at the Curragh.
Aidan O'Brien has multiple talented entires in the Etihad Airways Irish 1000 Guineas on Sunday with his ace Homecoming Queen clearly leading in favouritism with course and distance experience plus her powerful runs at Leopardstown and 9-length victory in the English 1000 Guineas.
She was given a very high 120 rating by the BHA for the English Guineas despite some detractors.
If she can run on good ground as well as on soft bog, she is unbeatable.
O'Brien is not as well favoured in Saturday's Abu Dhabi Irish 2000 Guineas considering his entires of Daddy Long Legs, Power, Reply and Wrote are not running up to past form.
Though Power would be his best choice, one never knows which will perform best nor does O'Brien know until the race.
Hermival was third to Camelot and French Fifteen in the English Guineas. He is a talented colt from France and does not have to deal with either superior colt in this race.
Richard Hannon's Trumpet Major will be ridden by Richard Hughes who thinks the world of the colt.
John Oxx's Taker is clearly progressive.
James Bolger's Parish Hall was very promising at two, but he has not raced this year.
Daring Bolger is using this race as a trial for PH's Investec Derby entry next weekend.
If he has progressed, PH could be far above the others.
Cirrus For Ispahan
Trainer Corine Barande-Barbe of France's legendary Cirrus Des Aigles finally decided that he would compete in Sunday's Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan, 1m1½f at Longchamp, rather than travel him in the warm weather to England for the Coronation Cup, 1m4f at Epsom.
The race distance is also probably a factor as he is better in the 1m2f range than longer where he would meet distance specialists like Gold Cup winner Fame And Glory, Dubai World Cup winner Monterosso and last year's victor St Nicholas Abbey.
He is 8/11 favourite for the Ispahan followed by Marco Botti's Planteur.
They will race against Reliable Man, Tin Horse and Guineas/Oaks champion filly Golden Lilac on her return at four.
On To Belmont!
"We're thinking Triple Crown, baby. He's a special horse."
Trainer Doug O'Neill has followed his winning formula again with I'll Have Another (Flower Alley).
He put his chestnut colt on a bus to Belmont Park Sunday morning to begin his training for the 1½m Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 9.
There was a slight delay arriving at Belmont caused by a road accident, but it never phased the horses.
"Him and Lava Man (his pony) were together and they were just chatting away the whole time" according to assistant trainer Jack Sisterson.
No surprise as IHA is a happy, playful colt who trusts his connections.
He knows he is a star.
O'Neill sent IHA from California to work on the Churchill Downs in Kentucky and he won the Kentucky Derby.
He shipped IHA off to Maryland for the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico which he won last night.
O'Neill is taking no chances with the first Triple Crown since 1978 at stake. IHA will just walk the shed row today before plans are made for a workout.
IHA came out of his race well taking his fourth victory of the year in stride.
Can he do the extra distance?
Can he beat fresh horses like Dullahan and Union Rags?
Given his progressive style, this is one American who says YES.
Go, fella, and have another!
Frankel To Ascot
Sir Henry Cecil has not decided which race at Royal Ascot to enter Frankel in - the 1m St James' Palace Stakes remaining at his champion distance.
Or to take the chance of upping Frankel's distance for the first time in the Prince Of Wales' Stakes, 1m2f, putting him in the sights of two older, battle-hardened Cirrus Des Aigles and Monterosso who are course and distance specialists.
It might be smarter increasing his distance 1f at a time.
Other races under consideration are Sandown's Eclipse in July and York's Juddmonte International, sponsored by Frankel's owner-breeder, in August.
All of the races qualify for the British Champions Series awards as did the Lochinge.
Cecil's powerhouse was completely relaxed in the race which barely raised a sweat.
He was just a little thirsty afterwards and is fine two days later.
Classic Prospects
Lingfield's Oaks and Derby Trials turned up two hot prospects for the Investec Oaks on June 1 and the Investec Derby June 2.
Johnny Murtagh rode the highly-touted filly, William Haggis' Vow, to a 3¼ length victory over Colima in the Betfred "The Bonus King" Oaks Trial Stakes (Listed), 1m4f, over a competitive field.
Main Sequence showed his experience over the 5/4 favourite, Shantaram, by a ¾ length win in the Betfred Derby Trial Stakes (Group 3), 1m4f.
Shantaram hung badly, but bravely fought back too late to overcome the fine ride given the winner by Ted Durcan for trainer David Lanigan - a former Cecil protege.
Main Sequence is now on 16/1 odds for the Derby and Vow 8/1 for the Oaks.
Camelot is still Derby betting favourite, but a soft favourite.
There seem to be doubts about this colt with the public though not with the bookmakers who have him favourite for every race including the Arc de Triomphe.
Cirrus To Ascot
Cirrus Des Aigles FR will skip his May 20 trip to Singapour for the International Cup to concentrate on being fit enough to take on Frankel in the Prince of Wales' Stakes at Royal Ascot, according to his trainer Corine Barande-Barbe.
Cirrus won last year's Champion Stakes on the same course and distance as well as two Group 1s this year: the recent Prix Gamay by 8 lengths and the Dubai Sheema Classic by a ¼ length over St Nicholas Abbey.
POW looked like a another stroll on the course for the recovered Frankel, the world's leading horse and England's 2011 Horse of the Year; it suddenly looks very, very interesting.
"Fighting" Cirrus has one of the bravest hearts in racing, is always underestimated and is guaranteed to give Frankel a proper race.
With his world top rating of 130 for the Prix Ganay, Cirrus cannot be seriously underestimated anymore.
Crackerjack King Leaves Italy
After a a 2½ length success over Afsare in the Premio Presidente Della Repubblica GBI RA Cing, Group 1, 1m2f for 4yo+, Crackerjack King IRE (Shamardal USA) has been transfered from trainer Stefano Botti to his brother Marco in Newmarket.
The colt has won six of his seven starts on good ground. His only failure to place was on soft ground.
He is aimed at the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on July 4 when he might may Camelot and Frankel and the Cox Plate later in the year.
Stefano Botti believes CK is a very good, progressive colt with a big future.
96 For Arc
Last year's winner of the Arc de Triomphe and Germany's Horse of the Year, filly Danedream, heads up the 96 entries for the October 7 race.
"Danger Man" Aidan O'Brien entered 16 of his on-fire charges (including current favourite Camelot and St Nicholas Abbey), Japan eight (which should include Orfevre) and French trainer Alain de Royer Dupre has entered nine.
Monterosso, winner of the Dubai World Cup, represents Godolphin.
©Racing International