O'Brien's Miles can stop raider from Oz

RACING: Leopardstown's Challenge Stakes this evening sees the European debut of the Australian Group One star Sunday Joy.

The ex-Gai Waterhouse-trained mare hasn't run since being out of the money in the Caulfield Cup last October, but the best of her three career victories came at Randwick in April of last year.

That was in the AJC Australian Oaks, but how that level of performance corresponds with the competition in tonight's Listed race is the big unknown.

It's not encouraging for Sunday Joy's chance, however, that Dermot Weld's stable jockey, Pat Smullen, is on Ivowen, with Kevin Manning taking the ride on the big name newcomer.

Both could end up playing second fiddle though to the Aidan O'Brien-trained Two Miles West, who should relish the "good to yielding" conditions after finishing runner-up to Duke Of Venice in the two mile Queens Vase at Royal Ascot.

Cobra was Jamie Spencer's pick from the Ballydoyle quintet in the Irish Derby, but never got in a blow and wound up with only one behind him. He is better judged on a third to Medicinal here last month, and the softer ground conditions should also be more to his liking in the 10 furlong conditions race.

Most of the major yards are represented in the other Listed race, the Silver Flash Stakes for juvenile fillies, but the main player in this division this season seems to be David Wachman.

The Queen Mary winner Damson heads his team, but the Co Tipperary trainer runs three here this evening, and Abbeylara, runner-up on her only start over five furlongs at Tipperary, could go well at a decent price.

Former Senator was a disappointment last term until winding the season up with victories at Listowel and the Curragh. Dermot Weld had the four-year-old in the conditions race but instead has opted to run in the Premier Handicap. The move looks significant.