Racing Weekend previewsAidan O'Brien has indicated that Virginia Waters is his likely starter in next weekend's Newmarket 1,000 Guineas, but before that the Ballydoyle trainer is preparing his first raid of 2005 to Longchamp.
Silk And Scarlet will represent O'Brien and jockey Kieren Fallon in the Group Three Prix de la Grotte tomorrow and the filly will be joined in France by four other stable companions.
Dark Cheetah (Fallon) and Cougar Cat (Colm O'Donoghue) will run in the Prix de Fontainebleu, a traditional trial for the French 2,000 Guineas, while the Tipperary winner Falstaff will take his chance in the Prix la Force.
Ace will also fly the Ballydoyle flag in the Group One Prix Ganay where the Arc winner Bago is due to reappear.
"Silk And Scarlet is just ready for a start. We're hoping she runs well and then we will see what we will do with her," said O'Brien yesterday.
Silk And Scarlet's opposition is likely to include last year's champion juvenile filly Divine Proportions.
The English Guineas is the sole British Classic that O'Brien has yet to win and although the current favourite Damson also races in the John Magnier colours, Virginia Waters remains a contender for Newmarket.
"She is a possible for the Guineas," said O'Brien although he was unable to confirm riding arrangements. Kieren Fallon has already been linked with the Damson ride. Virginia Waters won her sole start of the season to date and is as low as 14 to 1 with some firms for the Guineas.
With Fallon in France, Seamus Heffernan will look after business at Leopardstown tomorrow - if the Co Dublin track passes a 7.00am inspection.
"It's a toss up at the moment," said the Leopardstown racing manager Tom Burke yesterday. "There is a weather front expected which is forecast to stay stationary over the centre of the country on Saturday. A lot will depend on what rain that produces. It's in the lap of the gods."
The scheduled feature is the Listed Heritage Stakes where Sublimity will try to continue the recent hot streak of Maynooth trainer John Carr.
The ex-Michael Stoute inmate created a shock in the Alleged Stakes at the Curragh where he made full use of a solo in front to beat both Acropolis and Cairdeas. He drops back to a mile now but that shouldn't be a problem considering he won a Stakes race at Doncaster race last year over the distance.
Of more concern is that the others will be much more aware of him this time and if it comes down to a finishing burst maybe the unexposed Zarad can come out on top.
Testing conditions will not be ideal for the Oxx runner but he is highly regarded and he handled the deep well enough to run third in the Gladness. It's significant that his trainer allows him take his chance here.
Zarad may be the centrepiece of a very good afternoon for his jockey Michael Kinane who also gets the leg up on the Oxx trained Concert Party in the seven-furlong maiden and will be fancied to go close on Thecaulofesker in the 10-furlong handicap.
Dermot Weld runs two in the seven-furlong maiden, but the first choice definitely appears to be Utterly Heaven who did okay on testing conditions to run fourth to Hazariya on her Curragh debut.
Ground conditions mean no chases at Cork tomorrow, but that will be of no concern to the local trainer Robert Tyner who brings Spring The Que back to the track where she was heavily backed last time out.
The gamble came unstuck when Spring The Que managed only third to Hordago, but at the slightly shorter distance of tomorrow's first handicap hurdle it could be a different story.
Michael Hourigan has endured a largely frustrating 2005 so far, but Kilfinny Cross did win at Tipperary earlier in the month and looks interesting off this weight in the three mile handicap.
Fracas entered the Classic picture as he led home a one-two for Ireland in the Betfred Classic Trial at Sandown yesterday. Jamie Spencer took the David Wachman-trained winner to the front a furlong and a half out in the Group Three contest, but supporters had an anxious moment when the colt showed his inexperience by jinking right into Hearthstead Wings at the furlong pole.
Once Spencer had straightened him out, the 9 to 2 shot stayed on well to beat Merger, trained by Dermot Weld, by a length and a half, with outsider Hattan a further length away third. Fracas is now as low as 12 to 1 for the Vodafone Derby with Cashmans, but a best-priced 33 to 1 with Paddy Power. Shahrastani was the last horse to go on to Epsom glory after winning this race in 1986.
The next stopping point for Fracas may be the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on May 8th.
