Irish Racing/Weekend preview: The bookmakers reckon Damson is a long odds-on shot to pick up Europe's first Group One of the season for juveniles at the Curragh tomorrow, and her trainer, David Wachman, is hoping they are correct
The unbeaten Queen Mary Stakes winner, and 14 to 1 favourite for next year's 1,000 Guineas, has been as low as 1 to 3 during the week for the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes.
The crunch comes tomorrow, however, when she takes on colts for the first time, including a trio from Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle yard.
Since O'Brien has established a quite remarkable winning streak of six-in-a-row in this race, any one of the three can hardly be disregarded, and Wachman isn't the type to do that anyway.
The Co Tipperary-based trainer has only had one Group One runner, when Maroochydore carried an unbeaten record into last year's Moyglare only to wind up third last.
Even with the ante-post odds, Wachman is taking nothing for granted this time.
"They are all dangers. I don't know how hard it will be for her to take on colts because it's not a situation I've been in before. The bookies seem to think she's a good thing and I hope they're right," he said yesterday.
"She's in good form and working well, but if she doesn't win it won't be the end of the world. She can always go back and take on the fillies again."
Those who saw Damson, who races in the colours of Wachman's father-in-law, John Magnier, streak three lengths clear of the subsequent Group Three winner Soar at Royal Ascot will put such pessimism down to pre-race nerves.
Jamie Spencer teased a route through the pack that allowed Damson to cruise to the front at the furlong pole and then saunter home.
Kieren Fallon takes over this time and he will be anxious that Damson can break the poor recent record fillies have in the race.
It's 10 years since the last winner, Eva Luna, but a lot of that can be put down to O'Brien's dominance.
He runs the Anglesey winner, Oratorio, and Carnegie Hall, who has had the form of his maiden win significantly boosted by Defi but who is still dropping a furlong in trip.
Russian Blue completes the team and he looks interesting considering he is returning from a slight break when runner-up to Democratic Deficit in the Railway Stakes. Nevertheless Damson should be hard to beat.
A much more mature star on show will be the 2002 Melbourne Cup hero Media Puzzle, who returns to action for the first time since Flemington in the Group Two Royal Whip.
Weld also runs the Meld Stakes flop Medicinal, but this contest looks all about Tropical Lady, who has won five-in-a-row, mixing handicaps and pattern races, and who can continue her rise through the ranks.
A more enigmatic "name" on the programme is One Cool Cat. Last year's Phoenix winner returns to the course and distance for the Group Three Phoenix Sprint in an effort to get his career back on track.
The impact of two races this year has had a huge effect on One Cool Cat's value, but he still manages to put in some sizzling work at home.
The much-publicised heart problems have also not been a factor at Ballydoyle.
But only those with deep pockets will chance him again until he shows something better on the track. With the €7,500 supplementary entry Osterhase in the form of his life, even that might not be good enough.
Silk And Scarlet showed significant improvement from her debut to win the Listed Silver Flash at Leopardstown, and the Group Two Debutante Stakes looks a natural progression.
Wachman will also have an eye on Cork's jumping fixture, where he gives the Galway Plate third Manjoe a swift reappearance in the novice chase. For a horse with just two chases behind him, Manjoe ran some race at Ballybrit, and if it hasn't taken too much of the edge off him he can complete a cross-code double for his trainer.
