Cox's Poet may return to Curragh

POET IS the sole overseas hope left in Sunday’s Listed feature at the Curragh but the Clive Cox-trained veteran won’t be unfamiliar with Irish racing’s HQ.

Formerly trained by Aidan O’Brien, Poet won his maiden at the Curragh in early 2008 and the following year landed the Cambridgeshire at the track.

He is one of 15 entries left in the Coolmore China Friendship Silver Stakes after yesterday’s forfeit stage and could travel to Ireland on the back of a good second to Colombian in the Gordon Richards Stakes on his last start.

Poet’s former handler has left in three including the highly-rated Await The Dawn and Tower Rock, who was runner-up to Light Heavy in last month’s Derrinstown Derby Trial. The Curragh also announced yesterday that Dubai Duty Free will renew its Irish Derby festival sponsorship until 2015 (150th anniversary), with an option for another two years after that.

Apart from the Derby, Dubai Duty Free will sponsor five other races on the day which is being staged this year on a Saturday evening.