JOHN OXX'S star filly Timarida will be bidding to end her season on a high by imposing herself in a star studded $700,000 Grade One Matriarch Stakes (10f) at Hollywood Park tomorrow.
Johnny Murtagh's mount was forced to bypass the Grade One Yellow Ribbon Stakes earlier in the month owing to a fever, and Oxx has given his charge the necessary time to find her feet.
Timarida has been impressing on the training grounds and, despite a star studded line up which includes several Grade One winners, it is Wandesta, twice third in this race, and the German mare, Hollywood Dream, that Oxx fears most.
Oxxs Asmara, a fair fourth in French Group Three company last time, may take the £18,445 Listed Prix Petite Etoile (10f) at Saint Cloud today from Contare. Altamura (Willie Ryan) and Cabaret (John Reid) represent Britain.
Poltarf (Ryan), Heron Island (Reid) and Ayunli (David McCabe) all fly the flag for Britain in the £18,445 Listed Prix Denisy (1m 6f), but Al ways Earnest and Suave Tern may prove too strong.
Michael Kinane, not for the first time, takes part in the four race World Super Jockeys Series split over today and tomorrow at Hanshin, Japan. Frankie Dettori and Olivier Peslier also represent Europe.
Algan (Adam Kondrat), Francois Doumen's 1994 King, George VI Chase hero, warms up for another crack at the big Kempton Park chase in the £65,876 Prix Georges Courtois (2 1/2m) at Auteuil tomorrow.
The impressive Al Capone II, had Algan around 20 lengths back in fourth last time, but the latter is a stone better off now.
Lord Huntingdon's juvenile filly, Viscountess Brave (Fernando Jovine), a Milan winner on her debut, bids to follow up in the Premio Fouquet (7f) in Rome today.
Paul Kelleway's juvenile, Not Forgotten (Jovine), fifth on his debut on Wednesday, puts in a quick reappearance in the Premio Pleben (10f).
. General Pongo benefited from a stirring ride from Mark Dwyer at Bangor yesterday in the JPCS Novices' Handicap Chase, returning to action after badly bruising an arm in a fall at Hexham on Wednesday, to get the better of Whirly by one and a half lengths.
Dwyer tested his arm again later on when hitting the deck, but emerging unscathed after parting company with Naughty Future in the Malise Nicolson Memorial Novices Chase. Victory went to Bankhead, ridden by David Bridgwater for John Spearing.
Derek Byrne has struck up a good relationship with the quirky Tanseeq, and he notched his second win on the Michael Meagher trained gelding in the Ruabon Handicap Hurdle.
John Supple was taken to Wrexham's Maelor Hospital for precautionary x rays on his back after parting company with Choisty at the first fence in the JPCS Novices' Handicap Chase.
. Musselburgh yesterday announced that its new £80,000 bend will be in use for the first time at the course's first jumps meeting of the season on Monday wee
