The 10 editions of the £150,000 Tattersalls Breeders Stakes run to date have been something of a cross-channel benefit but no one has plundered the large pot more effectively than Richard Hannon who bids for a remarkable fourth success in a row in tomorrow's Curragh feature.
Miss Stamper, Another Fantasy and Amazing Dream have set the example for Hannon's duo this weekend, Ginola's Magic and Halland Park Girl who take on 24 others who were sold at last September's Fairyhouse sales.
A total of 12 British-trained horses take their chance which is bad news for a home team that has only twice kept the prize at home. The last to do it was Aidan O'Brien with No Animosity in 1995 and he relies this time on Barrier Reef.
The Navan winner never made a show in a similar sales race at Newbury won by Dom Puccini with Halland Park Girl in second spot. Along with the Leopardstown scorer Castleshane and Frances Crowley's Neutron, he probably represents the best hope of a home win.
However the statistics sway one towards the visitors and in particular Hannon whose Ginola's Magic is likely to be very hard to beat.
Hannon said yesterday that softish ground will not inconvenience either of his horses and although Ginola's Magic is drawn in stall one, it could easily turn out to be a huge advantage.
There may be only four runners in the Group 3 King Of Kings Futurity but it should represent a stiff test for Giant's Causeway who currently figures high in the Ballydoyle juvenile pecking order. The Naas winner was taken out of York's Acomb Stakes after bruising a foot and subsequently missed some days work.
Ranged against him are the gutsy Gowran winner Polish Panache who had the subsequent winner Ostovsky six lengths behind him and the Jim Bolger newcomer Aretha who has a big home reputation. However Giant's Causeway was described as "special" by Aidan O'Brien after Naas, a description not often dispensed by the trainer and should win.
Pat Flynn's string continued their return to form at Tralee during the week and King Of The Wire is napped to take the 10 furlong handicap under John Reid.
The frustrating Scottish Memories takes a big step back in trip from Fairyhouse last weekend in the concluding maiden and while on ratings he clearly should win, he is proving expensive to follow and slight preference is for Sugar Plum Fairy.
