John Dunlop's Taipan, the mount of Pat Eddery, will be hoping to repeat his 1997 success in the Group One Premio Roma over 10 furlongs in Rome tomorrow. The British challenge in the big Italian prize is strengthened by the presence of the Barry Hills runner, Eco Friendly (Darryll Holland).
Both raiders are in fine fettle, with Taipan scoring a consecutive victory in the Group One Europa Preis in Cologne in September. Whereas Eco Friendly ran a blinder in the Group Two Prix Dollar to be third to Insatiable in Paris last month.
However, connections of multiple German group winner, Oxalagu, fifth in the Dollar, will fancy their chances of turning the tables.
As Oxalagu, less than a length adrift of Eco Friendly, is now 7lb better off. The Andreas Schutz challenger was clear second best in this race last year.
Dunlop's unraced juvenile, Dionisio (Eddery), owned by an Italian stable, goes in the opening Premio Samba over an extended seven furlongs.
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