RACING: Hold That Tiger could lead the Aidan O'Brien squad on a retrieval mission in the Breeders' Cup in just over two weeks.
The Storm Cat colt, runner-up to the now retired Mineshaft in the Woodward Stakes at Belmont last month, is being lined up for the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita in 17 days. The mile-and-a-quarter highlight on dirt appears to have opened up with Mineshaft's retirement through injury and the defections of other leading American stars.
O'Brien outlined other provisional plans for Los Angeles yesterday with Grand Reward and Old Deuteronomy, unplaced behind Three Valleys in last week's Middle Park, mentioned as possibles for the Juvenile race. However, there is uncertainty about the participation of High Chaparral in the Turf race that the colt won last season. "He seems fine after the Arc but he is by no means certain to run in the Breeders' Cup. No decision has been taken," O'Brien said.
Other Santa Anita contenders are Yesterday in the Fillies and Mares race and Statue Of Liberty who flopped in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein at Longchamp on Saturday. "He ran too free in the blinkers and the ground was very holding too. We will look at the Mile for him," O'Brien said.
High Chaparral's Irish Champion Stakes defeat of Falbrav remains the highlight of the Ballydoyle year so far and that has yet to be confirmed with Falbrav's connections appealing the result to the Turf Club's Appeals and Referral's Committee in 12 days. Of the three-year-olds, Yesterday's Irish 1,000 Guineas success and Brian Boru's victory in the English St Leger have been the best among the classic generation.
One Cool Cat's double Group One triumphs have hinted at a classic bounce back in 2004 but in comparison to previous years, 2003 has been a comparative letdown for O'Brien-trained horses.
Apart from One Cool Cat, there have been other promising displays by the Ballydoyle two- year-old squad including Antonius Pius who could yet make the field for the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.
The Danzig colt hasn't run since winning the second of his two starts in the Group Two Railway Stakes on Irish Derby weekend. However, O'Brien nominated him as a possible starter at Newmarket. Doncaster's Racing Post Trophy is another Group One prize in England and O'Brien mentioned that race, or Sunday's Juddmonte Beresford at the Curragh as an option for the likes of Magritte, Five Dynasties, Mikado and Wolfe Tone.
The home action today is at Downpatrick where the Irish-Australian jump jockeys challenge continues. Paul Carberry has featured prominently in the tie so far and this afternoon should be no exception as he partners the Kilbeggan bumper-winner Sigma Techs in the opening maiden hurdle. However's Carberry's best chance could come aboard the course and distance winner Wall St Station in the handicap chase. This one is 7lb higher for beating Oh Highly Likely by eight lengths here last month and that doesn't look enough to stop him.
Conor O'Dwyer is on Arthur Moore's Madonna Fan in the Beginners' Chase and the decent hurdles handicapper represents a team that always has to be feared over fences.
Kieren Fallon will miss the first two days of the Tote Cesarewitch meeting at Newmarket next week after deciding not to appeal against a four-day ban he received at Longchamp on Sunday.
