Second Empire enters reckoning for Guineas

Aidan O'Brien's classic team got a further boost yesterday when the one time Epsom Derby favourite Second Empire was declared a possible runner in Saturday's Hibernia 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh.

Second Empire has not run this season due to a muscle injury sustained on the eve of the Tetrarch Stakes, but O'Brien said yesterday: "We are pleased with his progress and he has a realistic chance of running on Saturday."

Second Empire, the unbeaten winner of last season's Grand Criterium, pleased his connections when cantering at Ballydoyle yesterday morning and is now back in the classics reckoning.

Four other O'Brien trained colts will be left in the Guineas at today's forfeit stage, including the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas winner King Of Kings. But with Second Empire now in the Irish Guineas equation, the chances of King Of Kings bypassing the Curragh and possibly going straight for the Epsom Derby have increased.

Saratoga Springs, winner of the Dante, will also be left in at the Curragh, along with Bianconi and Chateau Royal. Bianconi has the Greenlands Stakes as an alternative, while the Italian Derby is being considered as another route for Chateau Royal.

"We won't make a final decision about who definitely runs in the Guineas until later in the week," O'Brien confirmed.

One trainer who will take on the Ballydoyle camp on Saturday is Dermot Weld, whose Tetrarch Stakes winner Two-Twenty-Two is on course for the 2,000 Guineas.

Weld may also be represented in Sunday's Airlie-Coolmore 1,000 Guineas with Idle Rich, who may be entered at today's supplementary stage. Another supplementary entry could be the impressive Killarney maiden winner Time Limit, whose trainer, Tommy Stack, still hopes to have Tarascon fit for the race.

John Reid will try for his fifth Irish classic win aboard Cloud Castle in the 1,000 Guineas. The Clive Brittain-trained filly finished in the frame behind Cape Verdi at Newmarket.

But Aidan O'Brien is sure to play a big part in the deciding of Sunday's big race also, with an impressive team headed by Shahtoush. The ground at the Curragh is currently good and a decision about whether to water the track will be taken later in the week.

Dr Fong, a close fourth behind Saratoga Springs in last week's Grosvenor Casinos Dante Stakes at York, will miss the Epsom Derby, connections revealed yesterday. Willie Carson, racing manager to owners The Thoroughbred Corporation, speaking at Bath races, said: "We will not have any runners in the Derby. Dr Fong will run in the Prix Jean Prat."

The French race is a Group One contest over a mile and a furlong at Chantilly on May 31st. The Henry Cecil-trained Dr Fong had won his three starts prior to York, but appeared at the limit of his stamina over the extended 10 furlongs of the Dante trip. The colt had been pushed out in the Derby betting to 20 to 1 with William Hill and 25 to 1 with Ladbrokes.