Rock may run on dirt

RACING: Aidan O'Brien appears to have opened the gate to Rock Of Gibraltar running in the Breeders' Cup Classic on dirt. Brian O'Connor reports.

The chances of the record breaking colt appearing in Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes decreased yesterday when O'Brien said Hawk Wing is the more likely runner if there is fast ground.

The Ascot authorities are currently watering the track but if Rock Of Gibraltar misses out, he will go straight to Chicago and there is a good chance he will take on the cream of the Americans in the 10-furlong dirt classic.

"There's a definite possibility he will run in the Classic. It's open - he is also in the Mile - but I wouldn't rule out the Classic," the Ballydoyle trainer said at Listowel races last night.

O'Brien's dual-Derby winner Galileo flopped on the dirt in last year's classic but Giant's Causeway was only just beaten by Tiznow the year before.

O'Brien is likely to declare four horses for the QEII on Thursday.

"Hawk Wing goes on fast and if it's quick, we will probably run him and Sholokhov. If it's not, Rock Of Gibraltar can go on either and he is more likely to go, maybe with Sahara Desert.

"It's important everybody knows the situation. We will pay the fine on whichever of them doesn't run," he said.

The Listowel Festival kicked off yesterday but there was no question of the kicks producing any divots with the ground officially described as "firm". The champion jockey Pat Smullen was left stiff and sore after being brought down on Moscow Retreat in the two-mile handicap but had experienced enough before that to make his mind up.

"It's very quick and it's debatable if the jar is out of it. Fast ground horses will find it okay but those that like a cut will be in trouble," Smullen said.

Conor O'Dwyer rode Junior Fontaine to win the handicap hurdle and reported: "It's definitely firm but not rock hard, and there's a lovely cover of grass." Polish Legion's defeat of Richie Rich in the sprint handicap took Fran Berry's total for his best ever season to 41, placing him in fifth place in the riders' table and just two behind Kevin Manning.

Manning was on the mark in the featured premier nursery on the stable outsider Turn Back Time who travelled well and quickened clear of Academy Brief in the last furlong. The winner's stable mate, and favourite, Addario never figured.

Bob What was the rock solid 2 to 1 favourite for the two-mile handicap and the confident nature of Davy Condon's ride had punters even more confident of collecting for much of the trip.

However, Gallileo Strike was stalking the favourite for much of the last half mile and in the last 200 yards, when Condon eventually went for broke, Gallileo Strike had too much toe.

Tarakan was a disappointing favourite for the handicap hurdle but was afterwards found to have been struck into behind.