Famous seeking to put name up in lights

RACING NEWS:FAMOUS NAME bids for the 20th stakes-race success of his career in the Trigo Stakes at Leopardstown today.

The son of Dansili has won this Listed prize on two previous occasions and has been successful at the Dublin circuit 12 times from 16 starts.

He is seemingly still at the peak of his powers having won his last four starts, most recently landing the Group Three Solonaway Stakes at the Curragh.

The only thing missing from the CV of the Dermot Weld-trained entire is a Group One victory.

“He’s in good form and hopefully he can keep his good record at Leopardstown intact,” said Weld.

Asked about future plans for the seven-year-old, the trainer said: “Let’s see how he gets on tomorrow first.”

Weld has also declared Caponata for the 10-furlong contest, but she is unlikely to take her chance.

“Caponata was quite disappointing on her last run and I think she’d be a doubtful runner tomorrow, but we’ll confirm it in the morning,” said Weld.

Weld is also keen to see how Big Break handles easier conditions in a fascinating renewal of the JRA Killavullan Stakes a couple of hours earlier.

As a full-sister to Famous Name, Big Break has plenty to live up to. She has certainly made a good start to her juvenile year, having finished third on her debut at Galway before running out a really impressive winner over the Killavullan course and distance.

Big Break is already a best priced 25 to 1 for next year’s 1,000 Guineas as she tackles colts in this Group Three event.

“She is an interesting runner having won her maiden on fast ground,” said Weld, who has saddled five previous winners of the race, including subsequent Irish Derby winner Grey Swallow in 2003. “There were two track records broken on the day she won and how she’ll handle this easier ground remains to be seen.

“It is a very good renewal of a race which has been a good pointer to next year’s Classics down the years.

“I think Magician is a very smart colt. I’m lucky enough to have a good record in the race and I won it with Grey Swallow a few years ago.

“There is no equivalent fillies’ race for Big Break to run in and I think she needs a bit more experience, so we’ll let her take her chance.”

Weld has also declared Thunder Mountain, but conditions may not be in his favour. “He will probably run, but he is a horse who loves top of the ground, as he showed when winning his maiden at Galway quite well,” said Weld.

The aforementioned Magician bolted up at the Curragh on his latest start for Aidan O’Brien.