Johnston bids for trial

MARK JOHNSTON yesterday decided to take the Irish option for his Pertemps 2,000 Guineas candidate Fly To The Stars.

The trainer who sent out Mister Baileys to capture the first colts' Classic in 1994 and saw Bijou d'Inde lose out in a three way photo finish last year, will run the Doncaster winner in Saturday's Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial.

Fly to The Stars was also entered for the Thirsk Classic Trial and the Tripleprint Greenham Stakes at Newbury the same day but Johnston said: "He will go to Leopardstown and Jason Weaver will ride him.

"It looks the obvious race of the three and a logical progression for him. He seems in good form and I was absolutely delighted with him at Doncaster, it couldn't have gone better, but now he is stepping up in class and we will have to see how he goes.

He is not remotely similar to Mister Baileys and Bijou d'Inde as they were both Group winners as two year olds and that's why they went straight for the Guineas.

"Fly To The Stars has got to make progress and this will be the real test for him."

The colt, who won a maiden at Doncaster last month by seven lengths, is quoted at 33 to 1 for the 2,000 Guineas by William Hill.

A $25 million infertility claim concerning failed stallion Cigar is set to be paid a week prior to the Kentucky Derby on May 3rd, it was announced yesterday. Leading underwriters of the policy, Assicurazioni Genernli (AG), said the only stumbling block is the publicity rights to the dual American horse of the year.