IN the belief that the ground at Ascot next Tuesday will be without jar and therefore quite safe John Oxx yesterday confirmed Timarida a definite runner for the Group Two Queen Anne Stakes.
This fine filly who ran Definite Article to a length on her seasonal debut in the Tattersalls Gold Cup over 10 furlongs at the Curragh last month was also entered for Tuesday's Group Two Prince of Wales's Stakes over the same distance.
The Queen Anne is a tougher race but we want her to take on Group One horses over a mile and then we will see how to plan her future for the rest of the season, said Oxx yesterday.
Key Change, successful at Leopardstown and Gowran Park this season, represents Oxx in next Thursday's Ribblesdale Stakes but according to the trainer the filly has been working very lazily recently.
The Kevin Prendergast trained Verglas, who was so impressive on his second outing at Leopardstown a month ago, runs in Tuesday's Coventry Stakes.
Stable companion Oscar Schindler runs in the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes next Friday.
Brendan Sheridan, one of our leading jump jockeys, is to retire soon and take up a position as a trainee official with the Turf Club. Sheridan (35) has ridden some 450 winners since turning professional in 1979.
Watering has been taking place at Gowran Park where the going is officially good for the two day meeting. Featured today is the listed Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes and this has attracted the Gerry Cusack trained Tout A Coup, winner of the listed Cheshire Oaks over an extended 11 furlongs and expected to run in the Kildangan Stud Irish Oaks.
Edmund Loder's well bred filly opened her seasonal account over a mile at the Curragh in April when she relegated the subsequently promoted Ceirseach to third place. Ceirseach, runner up to Theano at Tipperary and a probable for the Ribblesdale Stakes if she wins today, meets Tout A Coup on 7lb better terms. However, that may not be sufficient.
Oxx runs Bakiya and Sun Ballet. John Murtagh has elected to ride the former but both fillies are rated the same. The Aga Khan's Bakiya won her maiden over this distance at Fairyhouse while Sun Ballet, a staying third behind Identify and better fancied stable companion Harghar in a listed race over 10 furlongs at the Curragh will be suited to this extra few furlongs.
Tout A Coup will clearly take beating but Sun Ballet may be the danger.
Sweet Ciseaux got off to a tardy start at Roscommon where he started a hot favourite and eventually finished fifth. In the light of his easy win over Osvaldo at Tipperary he is entitled to another chance in the Ormonde Handicap.
Song Ott The Sword, who proved too good for Power Play at Roscommon, is taken to win the Ladies Race.
Easy Definition, who beat Bold And Gorgeous over this course in May, will be fancied to win the Rossenarra Handicap in which My Trelawny could go close, but the Liam Browne trained Wray, successful in a maiden hurdle at Killarney, upset the odds on Propaganda Coup in a mile maiden at Galway last August.
Yavana's Pace, who recently left Pat Flynn to join Michael Cunningham's string, will be the choice of many for tomorrow's EBF Premier Handicap after he had beaten the favourite, Roi Croft, in a seven furlong handicap at Leopardstown.
Pat Flynn is now represented by Bright Lake who won a 10 furlong handicap at the Curragh. Soft Spot has possibilities as has Pro Trader, who has been running consistently well this season, but the choice is Yavana's Pace.
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