RACING: Powerscourt has been the Group One standard bearer for Ballydoyle this year, and the colt leads a strong Aidan O'Brien raiding party to Chicago tonight, where he is disputing favouritism for the Arlington Million.
O'Brien's sole top-level success of the season was Powerscourt's in the Tatts Gold Cup in May, but that tally could dramatically increase with Necklace lining up for the Beverly D Stakes and Moscow Ballet joining the Dermot Weld-trained Simple Exchange in the Secretariat Stakes.
All three Grade One races are being shown live on Attheraces, with the Beverly D due off at 8.37 Irish time, the Million at 9.35 and the Secretariat at 10.53.
Jamie Spencer will ride the trio of O'Brien horses, and, along with Simple Exchange's jockey Pat Smullen, he will arrive back in Dublin at about 9 o'clock tomorrow morning in order to ride at Leopardstown's afternoon fixture.
Spencer is due to ride the unbeaten Ace in the local feature, the Group Three Desmond Stakes, which has just five runners but does see the quick reappearance of Tropical Lady after a slightly unlucky run at the Curragh last weekend.
The prolific filly saw her five-race winning streak come to an end in the Royal Whip behind Solskjaer, but there was just a head in it at the line and it is significant that Jim Bolger pulls her out again. Pat Shanahan takes the ride this time on Tropical Lady with stable jockey Kevin Manning still on the sidelines with the injury he picked up at the Galway festival.
The English raider Grand Passion holds the Meld winner Latino Magic on Minstrel Stakes form and looks a more likely danger than the unexposed Ace.
Vinnie Roe will bid to win a third successive Ballyroan Stakes on his way to an attempt at a fourth Irish Leger victory, and while Smullen will be hoping for a happier experience on the course than in last May's Savel Beg Stakes, the teak-tough six-year-old does look to have a tough task on his hands.
The English raider Foreign Affairs represents the in-form Prescott yard and comes here on the back of a win at Cologne that saw him beat the German hope for the Arlington Million, Epalo, by a nose.
Throw in the Queens Vase runner-up Two Miles West and the Curragh Cup winner Mkuzi and it's clear Vinnie Roe has a lot to do. However, class is hard to argue with and the top weight remains the selection.
Mona Lisa had a big reputation before her Curragh debut behind Cappa Blanca, but a slow early pace didn't help and the race was over before she got going. The experience should see her come out on top in the opener.
The final two days of Tramore will include the second chase start of Swordplay in tomorrow's conditions chase and a quick reappearance by The Castles in today's mile-and-a-half maiden. Joe Crowley's horse was a close fourth to Babacora at Gowran on Wednesday and looks the one to be on here.
