One Cool Cat to justify expectations

Curragh/Saturday preview: If One Cool Cat can't win his comeback race today then the shock wave will extend far beyond the Curragh.

The Group Three ladbrokes.com International Stakes looks an ideal opportunity for a horse who has always seemed destined for the very top but whose reputation was left in tatters with a run in the 2,000 Guineas that truly merited the description "flop." Trailing in second last was not in the script for a $3.1 million sales-topper whose Group One juvenile winning form had Aidan O'Brien idly dreaming during the winter of knocking an entrance between his own house and One Cool Cat's stable.

Throw in the sort of spring homework at Ballydoyle that his trainer described as scorching and that Newmarket disaster will have been felt in the racing and breeding industry from here to Kentucky.

Coolmore's subsequent explanation that One Cool Cat suffered an irregular heartbeat from banging off his starting stall had some observers sniggering and there was more blatant scepticism after the son of Storm Cat missed out on the Irish version after a poor scope.

There were many willing to bet he wouldn't be seen again but O'Brien has persevered and after a lacklustre season to date, that has yielding only one Group One success, the Ballydoyle camp have a lot riding on him today.

"He is in great form and his work has been excellent," reported O'Brien yesterday. "Obviously he has had a few setbacks and he will improve for the run since he is coming back off a break. He should love the good to firm ground." Just as ideal is the opposition which includes Mick Channon's handicapper Jazz Scene and Wathab who ran One Cool Cat to a length in the National Stakes last year.

He hasn't run since April and a strict interpretation of the ratings would suggest the 7lb pull at the weights from One Cool Cat would give the Weld horse the edge.

But good as Wathab obviously is he doesn't have the aspirations to the very top level that have always been held for his old rival. If they are still to be legitimate, then One Cool Cat surely has to win well today.

Another trainer hoping class will win out is John Mulhern who lets Osterhase take his chance under 10.1 in the 100,000 Rockingham Handicap.

Osterhase had the clock watchers purring with a sparkling four-length success here over the Derby weekend, a Stakes win that added to another Listed victory at Naas.

He gets his favoured fast going today and there will be plenty willing to bet on the old theory that weight doesn't matter as much over sprint distances. If they are correct then Osterhase is in the form of his life and will be a danger to all.

One Cool Cat's old rider Mick Kinane is on Dolce Voche in the fillies handicap and this one is taking a hike in trip after being a beaten favourite behind Sugerhoneybaby over seven furlongs here at the Derby meeting.

Kinane can also go close with Shoshona in the seven furlong handicap and Indian Pace looks the best option in the concluding maiden.