Tendulkar opens for O'Brien

IRISH RACING/News: The Dewhurst Stakes third, Tendulkar, is set to kick-start the new flat season for Ballydoyle on Sunday, but Aidan O'Brien also warned his star-studded string are behind schedule in their fitness.

O'Brien broke the world record for the number of Group One victories in a year in 2001 but his horses may be slower to come to hand than normal with a new Irish season scheduled to start at the Curragh this weekend.

"They have not done much and I don't think they are forward. In fact, they're a bit behind if anything.

"The weather has been very bad, especially for the last month," he said yesterday.

Tendulkar, third to Rock Of Gibralter in the Dewhurst, is one of 11 left in the listed Loughbrown Stakes over seven furlongs.

But the weather difficulties mean O'Brien may not even have a runner in the opening two-year -old maiden of the year.

Tomahawk (by Seattle Slew) and Statue Of Liberty (by Storm Cat) are both entered for the five -furlong maiden but O'Brien admitted: "The two-year-olds are in the same boat as the rest. They are more behind than in previous years."

The expensively bought Tasmanian Tiger is entered for the seven -furlong maiden but it's Tendulkar that be the first of the Ballydoyle classic prospects to be put on trial.

"He is ready for a run and we're happy with him," confirmed O'Brien, who will have three older horses to represent him this year.

The St Leger hero, Milan, who finished up last season with a runner-up spot to Fantastic Light in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Belmont, is joined by both Bach and the sprinter Ishiguru in the older ranks.

The top handicap on Sunday is the Irish Lincolnshire.