Racing NewsColm Murphy has issued a "so-far-so-good" report for Brave Inca as the champion hurdler continues preparations towards his comeback appearance at Punchestown next month.
Brave Inca is being targeted at the Morgiana Hurdle in just under four weeks time where champion jockey Tony McCoy is expected to again take the mount on the eight-year-old who hasn't run since finishing runner-up to Macs Joy at Punchestown last April.
McCoy's retainer with owner JP McManus is not likely to be a factor in his availability for the Morgiana and, despite the presence of the McManus-owned Straw Bear among the main challengers to Brave Inca in the ante-post betting for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle, Murphy remains unconcerned about the long-term jockey situation for his stable star.
"I'm obviously hoping Tony will be available for all Brave Inca's races this season but if he isn't, we'll simply have to use the next best available. I don't see it as a major problem. I doubt Straw Bear will be running in the Morgiana and after that we will look at things race by race. It's not something I have to worry about yet. Plenty of things can go wrong before any of that," the Co Wexford trainer said yesterday.
Murphy's other Champion Hurdle contender, Feathard Lady, is continuing her recovery from a ligament problem and the trainer reported: "She's going the right way and all we can do now is give her time. We're hoping to have her back working out for Christmas."
On the other side of the world, Kieren Fallon has also given a positive bulletin about the Melbourne Cup topweight Yeats and the former champion jockey has also stressed his desire to secure as many outside rides as possible before the big day on November 7th. Already two of Australia's most powerful trainers have snapped up Fallon's services for the Flemington meeting this weekend and the Irish jockey is on the look out for more.
South Australia's champion trainer David Hayes, who landed last weekend's Caulfield Cup with Tawqeet, has offered Fallon the ride on Churchill Downs in the Ascot Vale Stakes while Lee Freedman, trainer of the triple Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva, is using Fallon for California Dave on Saturday.
Fallon is riding Yeats out every morning at the Sandown track outside Melbourne and said yesterday: "I think he is enjoying being in Melbourne." However the style of racing down under has caused Fallon to question if the pace of the race will be ideal for the five-year-old who will be Aidan O'Brien's first runner in the race that stops a nation.
There was less good news for the Godolphin hope Imperial Stride who is described as "unlikely" to make the Cup after sustaining a leg problem before Caulfield. The Luca Cumani pair, Glistening and Soulacroix, remain possibles for Flemington although neither will take up possible warm up options this week at Geelong and Moonee Valley.
"I know Dermot Weld did it (Media Puzzle won Geelong Cup in 2002) but he's a genius and we find it difficult to get them to peak twice," said Cumani's wife, Sara.
