Curragh may be watered

Guineas news: The Curragh authorities will decide today if it is necessary to start watering the track ahead of this weekend's Guineas meeting.

The ground there is currently verging on good to firm which is good news for Mark Johnston who is hoping for quick going in order to supplement his Newmaket winner Attraction into the Boylesports 1,000 Guineas.

Attraction will be attempting history in trying to complete the English-Irish Guineas double but will have to supplemented into the race tomorrow at a cost of 40,000.

"Mark Johnston has said he will supplement her if the ground is suitable and it looks like it will be," said the Curragh manager Paul Hensey yesterday.

"At the moment it is drying rapidly and it is close to good to firm. The Met' Office is currently telling us there will be no rain for the rest of the week so we will look at things in the morning and decide about watering.

"It looks like we will definitely be watering the round course and we will see about the straight. We want to ensure safe ground but my view is that flat horses are bred to race on quick going so we will see how much we may have to put on," he added.

Attraction, unbeaten in six starts to date, is as short as 4 to 5 with the sponsors for Sunday's fillies classic and evens with Cashmans.

Boylesports also go 3 to 1 Harrid, 7 to 2 Red Bloom and 4 to 1 Alexander Goldrun.

It is a less clear cut picture for the 2,000 Guineas which sees the Newmarket hero, Haafhd, heading the market at 7 to 4. However, a final call on his participation will have to be made ahead of this morning's forfeit stage.

"I will talk to Sheikh Hamdan and he will make the decision," said trainer Barry Hills at the weekend.

If Haafhd gets the green light he will renew hostilities with the Newmarket third and fourth, Azamour and Grey Swallow, as well as One Cool Cat who suffered an irregular heartbeat when flopping in England.

The $3.1 million Storm Cat colt continues to carry a heart monitor in his work at Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle yard but is still rated as the best of the home team by the sponsors.

Boylesports, however, report each way interest in the O'Brien outsider Grand Reward who is now 16 to 1 from 33 to 1.

They bet: 7 to 4 Haafhd, 5 to 2 One Cool Cat, 3 to 1 Azamour, 7 to 2 Grey Swallow, 12 to 1 Pearl Of Love, 16 to 1 Bachelor Duke and Grand Reward.

The weekend's other Group One prize is Sunday's Tattersalls Gold Cup in which the double Mooresbridge Stakes winner Nysaean could be supplemented at a cost of 25,000. The race also remains an option for Godolphin's Sulamani, the 2002 French Derby winner.