Brian Boru off to Canada

RACING: Champion jockey-elect Jamie Spencer is looking ahead to a transatlantic Group One weekend, and could have a trio of …

RACING: Champion jockey-elect Jamie Spencer is looking ahead to a transatlantic Group One weekend, and could have a trio of Aidan O'Brien-trained horses to pick from in Saturday's Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.

Four Ballydoyle juveniles remain in the mile race, which has seen O'Brien-trained horses win in four of the last seven years. That quartet included High Chaparral in 2201 and Brian Boru 12 months later.

"Albert Hall, Hills Of Aran and Scandinavia are all very possible. But I'm waiting to see what the ground does over there," O'Brien said yesterday.

From Doncaster, Spencer will fly to Toronto to ride Brian Boru in the Canadian International at Woodbine on Sunday night.

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Brian Boru was third in the race last year and this time will face other European horses in Sulamani from the Godolphin and last year's Arc de Triomphe runner-up Mubtaker. Spencer will then return in time to ride at Leopardstown on Monday.

O'Brien also said he is now unlikely to have a runner in the Breeders Cup Juvenile, and confirmed that Saturday's Dewhurst Stakes runner-up Oratorio is finished for the year.

"He pulled a muscle in his hind-quarters. It was very bad ground and he likes it quick. He ran a very good race," he reported.

Dermot Weld confirmed yesterday that the Irish Derby winner Grey Swallow, who disappointed in the Arc on his last start, will race on as a four-year-old.

The trainer also confirmed that a 90 per cent share in the colt has been transferred to the Geneva-based lawyer Jean Pierre Regli. Terry Ramsden is no longer registered as a part owner.

Azertyuiop, who won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March, could return to action at Sandown Park in December.

"He's fine, but he's just taking a while to get fit," said his trainer Paul Nicholls. "He's still a possible for the Haldon Gold Cup but he's more likely to go for the Tingle Creek."

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column