Michael Kinane is set to be on classic duty in France this weekend, which will leave the prized ride on the Derby second favourite, Galileo, at Leopardstown on Sunday open to one of the other Ballydoyle jockeys.
Aidan O'Brien plans to run King's County in the Dubai Poule d'Essai des Poulains, the French 2,000 Guineas, at Longchamp on Sunday and also the Ballysax Stakes runner-up, Milan, in the Group One Prix Lupin on the same card.
O'Brien won the Lupin with Ciro last year but was out of luck in the Guineas when Monashee Mountain managed only fifth to Bachir. King's County was a late defection from last weekend's English Guineas but will now be given his classic chance. "Michael will probably go to France to ride King's County and Milan, and we will sit down and have a chat about who will ride Galileo in the Derrinstown Trial at Leopardstown. It will probably be one of our own lads here," O'Brien said yesterday.
Only two days ago, the 5lb claimer, Paul Scallan, won the Group Three Tetrarch Stakes on Modigliani, and another claimer, Colm O'Donoghue, rode Black Minnaloushe for O'Brien in the same race.
Like the Tetrarch, the Derrinstown is a Group Three contest and apprentices will not be allowed to use their claim, but O'Brien can also use the services of Seamus Heffernan if he wants to.
Galileo is a 6 to 1 second favourite for Epsom behind Golan on the back of an unbeaten record in two races. Last month he landed the Ballysax Stakes from Milan, who will try and frank the form in France.
"The Lupin is the plan for Milan, and King's County will run in the Guineas. He was in at Newmarket in case Minardi couldn't run. We 're told the ground in France is soft but a dry week is forecast. It doesn't really matter because King's County doesn't mind any ground," said O'Brien. First of all, however, O'Brien and Kinane will be represented at Naas this evening where they run the Sadler's Wells filly, Dream, in the second division of the fillies' maiden.
Dream, although she disappointed on her first start of the year at Cork, will be a fancy, but the Dermot Weld horses highlighted their good form by winning three races at the Curragh on Monday, bringing the term total to 14, and Chill Seeking will interest many.
Third to Baron De Feypo on her debut, Chill Seeking, as a daughter of Theatrical, should relish this better ground and can continue the Weld streak.
John Oxx could saddle the Oaks hope, Rayyana, and the track winner, Exaltation, against Galileo on Sunday, and he has an interesting newcomer in the Cadeaux Genereux filly, Masakala, in the first division.
The good apprentice Patrick Cosgrave looks a significant booking for Dame Portia in the fillies' handicap and the John Mulhern runner can get off the mark for the season at her third attempt.
