A supplementary fee of £3,750 was splashed out yesterday to allow Second Empire make his comeback in Saturday's Ridgewood Pearl Desmond Stakes at the Curragh.
Aidan O'Brien had been considering Sunday's Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville for Second Empire's first appearance since flopping in the Epsom Derby, but with a quality field lined up for the French race, including the Japanese champion Taiki Shuttle, the Ballydoyle team look set to take the easier option.
The Desmond Stakes will be no walkover for Second Empire, however, as a number of English raiders are expected, including the Sussex Stakes fifth, Centre Stalls, and, possibly, Princely Heir.
Second Empire also figures in the entries for the Group Two Royal Whip Stakes but is clearly unlikely to run. It's a different story for Sunshine Street, who could possibly bid to follow up his stakes victory at Leopardstown on Sunday.
If he does, it will be a trial for next month's Doncaster St Leger, which is now Sunshine Street's long-term target.
His trainer, Noel Meade, said yesterday: "Sunshine Street has come out of Leopardstown in tremendous shape."
