Racing News and Tramore previewJamie Spencer and Pat Smullen face a hectic travel schedule at the weekend as the two top jockeys traverse the Atlantic in search of big-race success.
Both travel to Chicago for Saturday night's prestigious Arlington Million meeting and return in time to ride at Leopardstown's Sunday afternoon fixture.
Spencer is scheduled to ride the Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Powerscourt in the Million and the Aidan O'Brien stable will also be represented in both other Grade One turf races at Arlington.
Necklace goes in the Beverly D Stakes while Moscow Ballet will try to confirm Royal Ascot form with Smullen's mount Simple Exchange in the Secretariat Stakes.
Simple Exchange has won the American Derby at Arlington since that Hampton Court Stakes clash and Smullen said yesterday: "There should be a lot less between them as that was my horse's first run of the season and he has obviously improved."
Dermot Weld also gave an upbeat bulletin on Simple Exchange, who has remained in the USA since his last race.
"He's all set and in good form. Kitten's Joy, who is owned by one of my owners, Ken Ramsey, is the best three-year-old turf horse in the US so he will be hard to beat but we're reasonably hopeful," the Curragh trainer said.
Smullen flies out tomorrow and he and Spencer will face a dash to the airport to make a flight back to Dublin in time for the Desmond Stakes meeting.
"I've done it for the last couple of years so we should have no problems," the former champion jockey said.
The top filly Tropical Lady could make a quick reappearance in the Desmond after appearing to be an unlucky loser to Solskjaer in the Group Two Royal Whip at the Curragh on Sunday. Trainer Jim Bolger also reports stable jockey Kevin Manning could return from injury in time to team up with Tropical Lady again. Manning took a bad fall at the end of the Galway festival.
Azamour will fly the Irish flag in Tuesday's Juddmonte International at York but Paddy Power are looking further ahead to next month's Irish Champion, which could be the race of the season if all entries take their chance.
Godolphin's King George winner Doyen is installed a 6 to 4 favourite for the Leopardstown Group One, with Grey Swallow and Azamour at 4 to 1 each.
The festival season continues this evening with the start of the Tramore's four-day session and it could pay to again side with the young apprentice Rory Cleary, who made such an impression at Ballybrit.
Michael O'Brien provided Cleary with one of his most valuable victories at Galway when High Priestess won the Friday highlight and O'Brien saddles the rider's mount Shayrander in the mile-and-a-half maiden.
Shayrander also ran at Galway when fourth to Orpington and had two and a half lengths in hand of the 70-rated Fayr Star, who opposes again tonight. Cleary's claim looks set to tip the balance in favour of Shayrander again.
Local trainer Paul Roche runs Another Superman in the bumper and this one wasn't beaten that far when ninth to King Of Spades at Galway.
Batang has a first start since April on the flat in the mile-and-a-half handicap and the opposition here doesn't look as tough as in the Galway Hurdle, where he eventually wound up mid-pack.
Paddy Power bet for the Irish Champion: 6-4 Doyen, 4 Azamour, Grey Swallow, 7 Bago, 10 Rakti, North Light, 12 Warsaan, 14 Tycoon, 16 Bar.
