NEWS ROUND-UP: THE EAGERLY-ANTICIPATED clash between Duke Of Marmalade and New Approach in the Juddmonte International could now be in doubt after yesterday's York cancellation which has forced the big race to be rescheduled to Friday.
Jim Bolger describes his Epsom Derby winner New Approach as no more than "50-50" to line up on Friday with concerns about there being just 15 days after that to the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
That home race is also a target for Duke Of Marmalade and his trainer Aidan O'Brien conceded yesterday that no definite plans have been made to run the four-time Group One winner at York.
Duke Of Marmalade, along with the other intended O'Brien starters yesterday, had landed in England before racing was called off due to the track being waterlogged.
"The fact he has been over there and is coming back is a disadvantage. It would mean him travelling twice in a week. We will have to see. There's nothing definite yet," O'Brien said yesterday.
New Approach was at Dublin airport when yesterday's cancellation was confirmed and missed out on a fruitless trip across the Irish Sea. The Derby winner's return to action had been much anticipated but now Bolger has to decide if New Approach will take in Friday's race as well as possibly the Irish Champion.
"I will discuss it with John Ferguson (Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock adviser) but I would say he is no more than 50-50 to run," he said. "Friday brings us that bit closer to the Champion Stakes."
There were just two weeks between New Approach's defeat to Henrythenavigator in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and his memorable Derby victory but crucially those races were run on much better going.
The decision to cancel yesterday's meeting was taken after 11mms of overnight rain fell on the Knavesmire. It has prompted a dramatic rescheduling of yesterday's Group races with the Juddmonte now set to start at 2.50 on Friday with the Great Voltigeur due off at the same time tomorrow.
O'Brien is set to be triple-handed in tomorrow's scheduled Darley Yorkshire Oaks with the Irish Oaks runner-up Ice Queen joined by both Honoria and Adored. The former Musidora heroine Passage Of Time and Michael Stoute's Allegretto head the home team.
The Coolmore syndicate have the option of Sunday's Prix Morny at Deauville for David Wachman's Anglesey Stakes winner Bushranger. The Danetime colt followed up his Group Three success with a decent third to Mastercraftsman in the Phoenix Stakes and is now set to remain at Group One level in Sunday's six-furlong French feature.
"Bushranger is in good form and has been working well since the Curragh," Wachman said yesterday. "The Prix Morny is the race we are looking at but we will discuss it with the owners later in the week."
This weekend's Group Two feature at the Curragh is the Futurity Stakes which could be the next target for Aidan O'Brien's exciting Tyros Stakes winner Rip Van Winkle. The unbeaten Galileo colt is among the 25 entries for the seven-furlong race which also features Jim Bolger's Gan Amhras and Arazan from John Oxx's yard.
Gan Amhras has some illustrious footprints to follow in as both New Approach and Teofilo have won the Futurity in the last two years before going on to become champion European juveniles.
Conditions are currently testing at the Curragh but the track authorities report that weather conditions are due to improve at headquarters before Saturday.
Kevin Prendergast is looking at the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh on the last day of the month for his exciting unbeaten filly Shimah. The veteran trainer was thankful yesterday for having avoided the temptation of York's Lowther Stakes for the Storm Cat filly who added a Listed prize to her maiden win at the Curragh on her last start.
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