Vermeer may exhibit in Paris

JAN VERMEER could return to France in an attempt to regain Group One-winning form as Aidan O’Brien is weighing up running the…

JAN VERMEER could return to France in an attempt to regain Group One-winning form as Aidan O’Brien is weighing up running the beaten Epsom Derby favourite in next week’s Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp.

The Montjeu colt landed last November’s Criterium International at Saint-Cloud and returned to action this season with a Gallinule victory that contributed to him starting a 9 to 4 favourite at Epsom.

However, Jan Vermeer faded to fourth behind Workforce and subsequently managed only third to his stable companion Cape Blanco in the Irish Derby at the Curragh.

O’Brien won the €600,000 Grand Prix de Paris five years ago with Scorpion, and next Wednesday evening’s Bastille Day feature at Longchamp is an option for both Jan Vermeer and Fencing Master.

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“It’s possible one of them could go to Longhcamp. Jan Vermeer has been fine since the Irish Derby but hasn’t done a lot,” the trainer said.

Fencing Master disappointed in May’s Irish 2,000 Guineas and finished sixth in his only subsequent start in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot.

O’Brien sent Age Of Aquarius to the Grand Prix de Paris last year where the colt finished runner-up to Cavalryman.

The Snow Fairy team are likely to pay out €42,500 next week to supplement their Epsom Oaks heroine into Sunday week’s Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh.

Trainer Ed Dunlop, who saddled Ouija Board to complete the Oaks double in 2004, having also won with Lailani in 2001, is targeting a hat-trick in the Curragh classic.

“As long as everything is fine she will be supplemented and Ryan Moore will hopefully ride again,” the Newmarket trainer said.

“She did her first piece of work since Epsom last week and we were pleased.”

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column