RACING:IT'S A Classic trial day shorn of its principal Classic contenders but Call To Battle can still give John Oxx's big race ambitions a boost at Leopardstown tomorrow.
Oxx has elected to send Born To Sea straight to Newmarket for next month’s 2,000 Guineas and a short spell on the injury sidelines rules the Curragh trainer’s other big hope, Akeed Mofeed, out of a start this weekend.
With Wading not among Aidan O’Brien’s quartet for the 1,000 Guineas Trial, and Jim Bolger not running the Dewhurst winner Parish Hall, the impact of Ireland’s first significant trials is not what it might be.
What could be important, though, are signs of where the leading stables are at in terms of readiness for the upcoming Group One tasks and Sharestan’s Lincolnshire win for one indicates the Oxx team have hit the ground running this season.
That unexposed colt steps up to Listed company for the Heritage Stakes and a clash with the Leopardstown stalwart Famous Name tomorrow and Sharestan looks an older horse guaranteed to make his mark in Group company this season.
A total of seven line up for the Group Three Ballysax Stakes, a race with a huge pedigree in terms of the Derby but whether or not there is a potential blue-riband winner here is debatable. The Beresford winner, David Livingston, has to concede weight and leads a Ballydoyle trio while Light Heavy leads a Jim Bolger pair.
Call To Battle, though, has course form having won the Listed Eyrefield last autumn and although very quick conditions could present a challenge to the Oxx runner, his trainer would hardly send him if not confident in his adaptability.
Just four line up for the 2,000 Trial including another Oxx hope in Akeed Wafi. The form of his Gowran maiden win is hardly special and while Furner’s Green was beaten here by Light Heavy on his first start of the season, he shaped like that would bring him on considerably.
Kevin Prendergast is always a man to reckon with in these trials and the veteran Curragh trainer provides an interesting runner in the 1,000 Trial with Bulbul.
The daughter of Shamardal hosed up in a Naas maiden last October, after which Prendergast didn’t bother to try and disguise his regard for the filly.
She has a lot to find with the top-rated Fire Lily whose Group One form last year includes seconds in the Moyglare and the Prix Marcel Boussac. But at the start of the Classic campaign it is a different ball game again.
The opening juvenile maiden sees the Dawn Approach form from the Curragh last month tested again.
Dylanbaru boosted that form during the week and Canary Row and Forester clash again tomorrow having finished second and third respectively at HQ last month. Forester can reverse the placings this time.
Tomorrow’s Tramore action can be good for local trainer Henry De Bromhead who sends Spill The Beans for his first start since September in the conditions chase. The Folkes Choice can also score for De Bromhead in the mares maiden.
