Duke on track to propel O'Brien to record

NEWS: DUKE OF Marmalade is on course to try and propel his trainer Aidan O'Brien to another record in Saturday's Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes but he will again have to overcome New Approach to do so.

Both Irish colts are among a total of 11 remaining in Leopardstown's feature event and they dominate ante-post betting, with Duke Of Marmalade an 8 to 13 favourite with Paddy Power to land his sixth Group One of the season.

The last of them came just 11 days ago in the rescheduled Juddmonte International at Newmarket where he had New Approach over three lengths behind him in third.

That was New Approach's first start since winning the Epsom Derby, however, and his trainer Jim Bolger is adamant his three-year-old star will improve for that race.

New Approach certainly has the pedigree to do well on Saturday as his dam Park Express won the race when it was run at the Phoenix Park in 1986. New Approach's sire, Galileo, was just edged out by Fantastic Light in a memorable finish in 2001.

Duke Or Marmalade himself was runner-up to his former stable companion Dylan Thomas in last year's Champion Stakes but has been a transformed horse this season and is unbeaten in five starts at the top level.

"He's an amazing horse, coming out every day and winning like this," O'Brien said yesterday before downplaying concerns about the proximity of the Juddmonte to Saturday's race. "It has to be a worry but it's just the way the races fall. Everyone will just have to take it as it comes."

O'Brien has five entries remaining in the Champion Stakes but Henrythenavigator is being targeted at Sunday's Prix Du Moulin at Longchamp if the going in France is suitable, while Zulu Chief also has an entry in the Group Three Kilternan Stakes on Saturday.

Both Red Rock Canyon and King Of Rome could join Duke Of Marmalade and victory for any of them would make O'Brien the most successful trainer in the 32-year history of the Champion Stakes.

He has already won it five times, a tally he shares with his Ballydoyle predecessor Vincent O'Brien, whose quintet included four in a row between 1978 and 1981. The current champion trainer is also looking at a four-in-a-row after Dylan Thomas's back-to-back wins and Oratorio in 2005.

Ground conditions for Saturday are uncertain at the moment. The going at Leopardstown yesterday was "good" and "good to yielding in places." However, there is a chance of heavy rain falling in the Dublin area on Thursday night.

"They can't predict exactly how much we'll get but it could be heavy," said Leopardstown's manager, Tom Burke, yesterday.

That might not be ideal for Duke Of Marmalade but as well as the Champion Stakes, this weekend may turn out to be pivotal in O'Brien's pursuit of a new world record of Group One successes in a year.

O'Brien is currently on 18, seven behind Bobby Frankel's 2003 tally.

As well as the Moulin, O'Brien also has four entries in Haydock's Betfred Sprint Cup on Saturday. He described US Ranger, Abraham Lincoln, Astronomer Royal and Honoured Guest as all "possibles" for Haydock.

Also on Saturday he has four "possibles" for the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes, including Halfway To Heaven and last year's leading juveniles Listen and Youresothrilling.

Mark Johnston has the Falmouth winner Nahoodh as an option, while the French-trained Royal Ascot winner, Sabana Perdila, could also take her chance. The Yorkshire Oaks and Coronation Stakes winner Lush Lashes also figures among the 16 entries and is an intended starter.

Dermot Weld's Carribean Sunset is among the Matron acceptors but she is also in the entry list for the Kilternan Stakes along with her stable companion Famous Name.

Eddie Lynam and Fran Berry travel to Goodwood this afternoon where Duff tries to make it two from two this season in the Group Three KBC Supreme Stakes (7f).

Meanwhile, Horse Racing Ireland have announced there will be a fixture at Roscommon on Tuesday 14th October to replace the meeting which was cancelled yesterday due to waterlogging.