Racing's rhythm meant Sunday's Naas action drummed to a Royal Ascot beat but despite a Listed race double the rumbling road towards the most open Investec Epsom Derby in years continues to dominate the thoughts of the Aidan O'Brien-Ryan Moore team.
They’re hardly alone in that as ahead of Monday’s supplementary stage a reflection of how just how open it is comes from a whispered suggestions the maximum permitted Derby field of 20 runners may yet become a factor.
The Dante winner Wings of Desire and Godolphin's French hope, Cloth Of Stars, are set to be added to Saturday's classic and Ed Dunlop has also indicated his hope Red Verdon will also be put in at a cost of almost €100,000.
With Minding on track for Friday’s Oaks, supplementary problems are one headache O’Brien doesn’t have. However, even with The Gurkha being kept for Royal Ascot in just over a fortnight, Ireland’s champion trainer still has up to half a dozen possible possible “blue-riband” starters.
That’s shy of the eight he ran in the 2007 Derby but O’Brien is determinedly keeping his options open until later in the week and isn’t putting Moore under pressure to commit to any of his Ballydoyle hopefuls.
Moore won the Chester Vase on US Army Ranger, who continues to dispute favouritism with Wings of Desire, but the trainer said: “Ryan will leave it as late as he wants to make a decision.
“They’re all in the mix and we won’t decide anything for the first half of the week. We will keep an eye on weather forecasts and all of it. There’s the French Derby too the day after and we’ll try and have runners in both.”
He indicated Bravery, and perhaps Shogun, are the most likely colts to divert to Chantilly. Ground conditions at Epsom are currently “good” and good to firm in places which wouldn’t be ideal for Dermot Weld’s Harzand, although potential significant rain is being forecast for the London area on Tuesday.
Smooth success
The other Irish-trained hopeful remains Jim Bolger’s Moonlight Magic, and the Godolphin ‘brass’ got a welcome boost at a sun-soaked Naas when Anamba returned to action with a smooth success in the Owenstown Stud Stakes.
The Derby is also famously a test of jockeyship and Moore’s status among the world’s elite riders was emphasised when the Englishman made a successful first visit to Naas.
Moore dominated the Coolmore Rochestown Stakes from the front on Peace Envoy, who looks Royal Ascot bound, as does Cuff who got Albany Stakes quotes after an impressive victory in the Listed fillies Sprint.
Moore secured a run up the inner of Megan Lily at a vital stage and Cuff shot three lengths clear of Yulong Baobei.
“She did well to win and has improved from her runs,” said the jockey, who was also impressed with Peace Envoy. “It was only his third run, and he was a bit green but Aidan’s do usually progress.”
Outsider
Only Mine was a 16/1 outsider for the Group Three Lacken Stakes but showed significant progress herself to impressively beat the Ballydoyle favourite, Washington DC.
Deauville’s Prix Maurice De Gheest could be a Group One target for Only Mine later in the season, although Murphy stressed she could get a midsummer break if conditions turned too quickly.
“The little bit of ease in the ground helped there and she’s in again in the Ballyogan at the Curragh on Saturday. The way she looked after that she could run again tomorrow,” Murphy said. “It was no surprise to me – I always believed she was a Group filly.”
Dermot Weld believes black type will be in Hazmiyra's future after the Aga Khan's filly made an impressive winning debut in the seven-furlong fillies maiden, while Godolphin doubled up when William Buick also rode Aridity to success in the mile handicap.
“He’s a big honest horse and a mile on that ground suited him,” said in-form trainer Willie McCreery.
