RACING/Flat Season Opens at the Curragh: A potentially momentous season kicks off at the Curragh tomorrow with the champion trainer Aidan O'Brien adopting a typically cautious attitude.
Tomahawk is the first of the powerful team of classic prospects from Ballydoyle to get an airing in the Oak Lodge Loughbrown Stakes.
With Hold That Tiger, Statue Of Liberty, Brian Boru et al waiting in line, Tomahawk is something of a path finder but like last year, it may not be just O'Brien who will fly the Irish flag in the top races throughout the world.
Dermot Weld gives Dance Design's brother, the highly rated Former Senator, a run in the Loughbrown and still has the National Stakes winner Refuse To Bend in reserve for the 2,000 Guineas.
The John Oxx team have Alamsher, conqueror of Brian Boru in the Beresford, as a classic prospect and the older horse brigade has rarely been as strong with names like High Chaparral, Hawk Wing and Vinnie Roe being readied for action.
Still the focus will invariably be on O'Brien, already champion trainer seven times at home, also champion in Britain and the holder of the world record of Group One victories in a season.
That 2001 total of 23 might have been threatened last year but for a summer bout of the cough and although that is in the past, O'Brien is not expecting immediate fireworks from his five runners tomorrow.
"They might not be that forward. The two year olds are definitely behind and there is a bit to come with the three year olds yet. But the horses usually improve from their first to second to third runs.
"I just hope they run nice races on Sunday. Tomahawk is well. He has done no work on grass but he seems fine. He should come on a good bit for the run," he said yesterday.
O'Brien nominated the Gladness Stakes on April 6th as a possible start off for Hold That Tiger who has been continuously backed for the 2,000 Guineas and is now a widespread 7 to 2 favourite.
"I can't say for definite when he will run. He was obviously a very good two year old but like the rest of them he has to come through. There are lots of Guineas possibles," he said before saying a pre-Kentucky Derby raid on the US is not likely.
"All the American bred horses are in the Kentucky Derby and we will treat it as if they are being prepared for the Guineas. Both races are at the same time and we will decide late if we will go there," he said.
Tomahawk won the first contest of the season last year and that's an encouraging factor in the Listed race where inexperience could find out Former Senator and the ground may have turned for Chappel Crescent.
O'Brien runs two in the two year old contest, including Danehill Dancer's brother Colossus who will be ridden by the home from Hong Kong Michael Kinane.
However there are encouraging reports from the Weld camp about the fitness of their team and the Stravinsky colt Steel Light is expected to go well.
Kieren Fallon is another high profile international rider to figure and he will be expected to click on Wrong Key in the Park Express Stakes.
Atlantic Rhapsody goes for a repeat in the Lincolnshire but will have to carry almost a stone more than when winning impressively 12 months ago.
Camargue comes here fit from jumping, including a Limerick victory last time, and could be an option off a low weight.
The Machiavellian colt Patriotism sports the Maktoum Al Maktoum colours in the seven furlong maiden and the Jim Bolger trained horse is reputed to be smart.
His rider Kevin Manning features in the Jockeys Challenge between the flat and jumps at 4.45. The jumps captain Charlie Swan is on Take Flite while Mick Kinane is on Ebika.
With the likes of Fallon, Barry Geraghty and John Murtagh on view the race will attract plenty of attention but maybe Pat Smullen can come out on top on the Champion Hurdle withdrawal Bob What.
