Racing News and preview: Dermot Weld has nominated the Group Three Meld Stakes at Leopardstown in two weeks as a likely date for the long-awaited reappearance of the Melbourne Cup hero Media Puzzle.
Plagued with injury since his epic 2002 Flemington victory, Media Puzzle hasn't raced for over 20 months but is now on target for a comeback.
"It looks pretty certain that the Meld will be a start-off point," Weld said yesterday. "He is well but it is only July and there is no point yet talking about future plans beyond that."
Media Puzzle missed the whole of 2003 after picking up an injury when training in Dubai but Weld has already stated that a return to Australia for the Melbourne Cup is again the long-term aim with the horse.
Weld's other star stayer Vinnie Roe missed out on the Curragh Cup on Derby weekend after it was decided he would have to carry too much weight in the race.
"Vinnie Roe is fine but we haven't decided what we will do with him yet," said the trainer.
The Kildangan Stud Irish Oaks will take centre stage at the Curragh on Sunday week but Jim Bolger has already decided that the home team will have to try and fight off the odds on favourite Ouija Board without the high class Alexander Goldrun.
Runner-up in the Pretty Polly Stakes on Derby weekend, Bolger believes the filly is not certain to last out a mile and a half and will instead train her for September's Matron Stakes.
It's a long way from the July Cup but Jamie Spencer will be on duty at Wexford this evening where he has three rides that include the Joe Crowley-trained Boundary in the mile and five maiden.
Formerly trained at Ballydoyle and racing in the colours of Aidan O'Brien's wife Anne Marie, Boundary is no star but does have an 80 rating that would give the winning of a moderate contest.
Spencer is on Valentine's Pet in the claimer but one of the few runners here in decent current form is Mistified who can score for Pat Smullen.
Safe Route completes Spencer's Wexford book and the six year old, who won a hurdle at Cork recently, is preferred to Dow Jones and Team Allstar.
Ruby Walsh looks the jockey to follow at Fairyhouse's all-jumps fixture where the former champion looks the perfect match for the enigmatic Dyrick Daybreak in the five-runner conditions hurdle.
Mister Euro should relish the increase in trip in the handicap chase while the narrow Bellewstown bumper winner Chapel Man can successfully break his hurdling duck in the opener.
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