King's county, the Grand Criterium second, spearheads Aidan O'Brien's three-pronged assault on the French 2,000 Guineas, the Dubai Poule d'Essai des Poulains, at Longchamp tomorrow.
Completing the Ballydoyle raiding party in the French classic are the respective Tetrarch Stakes first and fifth, Modigliani and Black Minnaloushe.
John Gosden's Clearing, Godolphin's Dewhurst runner-up Noverre, plus John Dunlop's supplemented Zarin, also add weight to the overseas challenge. Okawango, the Grand Criterium winner, heads a strong domestic defence.
The in-form Kevin Prendergast's Rebelline is one of two Irish runners in the French 1,000 Guineas, the Dubai Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. O'Brien's Rose Gypsy is the other entry.
Godolphin's Tempting Fate completes the foreign sextet in a race in which Amonita looks the one to beat.
O'Brien is represented on all three Group One events on the card and Milan will be out to emulate Ciro by annexing the French Derby trial, the Prix Lupin. [SBX]
HOPES that racing in Northern Ireland would be able to get under way again next weekend were ended yesterday with the news the Downpatrick meeting scheduled for May 18th and 19th has been postponed.
Course manager Iain Duff said yesterday: "We are very unhappy about this for we have had no word from the Northern Ireland Executive."
Suspected cases of foot-and-mouth remain under investigation in Northern Ireland although the number of confirmed cases remains at just four so far.
Duff added: "We are bitterly disappointed and we have asked the Irish Turf Club for new dates on June 1st and 2nd. I think they will be sympathetic to our cause."
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