'DERMOT WELD'S star filly Chinese White could attempt to land a prestigious Group One prize in France on Sunday if ground conditions at Longchamp allow.
Chinese White is one of just 14 entries remaining in the Montjeu Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary over a mile and a quarter and Weld said yesterday the €250,000 race may be her next start. "We will leave a decision until as late as we can on Friday but she is a possible. We will have to see what way the ground goes over there," he said.
"It was very fast there for the Guineas meeting on Sunday but there are thunderstorms forecast for the Paris area. You never know with those conditions, however, so we will leave it late," he added.
Chinese White, who races in the colours of Lady O'Reilly, maintained her unbeaten record at Gowran Park earlier in the month, after which she briefly headed the ante-post betting market for the Epsom Oaks. She was quickly ruled out of that event though in favour of a campaign leading up to the Irish Oaks. The French Oaks, the Prix de Diane, was mooted as another possible target but now Chinese White could get an early opportunity at Group One glory in France.
Another Irish entry for the Saint-Alary is Jim Bolger's Athasi Stakes winner Prima Luce who would also appear to relish slightly easier ground. Possible home runners include the Andre Fabre-trained pair, Proviso and Gagnoa.
Weld also said yesterday a decision about Casual Conquest's next race may not now be taken until next week. After the colt's six length rout in last Sunday's Derrinstown Derby Trial, Weld indicated the Moyglare-owned colt would probably bypass Epsom in favour of the French Derby at Chantilly, especially since Casual Conquest would have to be supplemented for Epsom at a cost of €94,000.
Aidan O'Brien has indicated both Haradasun and Astronomer Royal may run in Saturday's Group One Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. Haradasun is currently a best priced 5 to 1 second favourite for the mile event. Astronomer Royal, last year's French Guineas hero, is in contrast a 20 to 1 shot. James Fanshawe's Cesare currently heads the Lockinge betting at 100 to 30.
O'Brien's focus today will be on York where the Gowran maiden winner Frozen Fire runs in the Dante. The Montjeu colt faces a tough task against the current Derby favourite Twice Over, as well as John Gosden's Sandown Trial winner Centennial.
O'Brien and jockey John Murtagh will also team up for the two- year-old Four Star General in the six furlong maiden.
Just four days after making his racecourse debut at Leopardstown, Kalacan can land the opener at this evening's Limerick fixture. Kalacan was a three and a half length runner-up to Duaisbhanna on Sunday. At the back of the field on the turn in, he made eye-catching progress up the rail in the straight and it's hard to overstate the importance of experience in these two-year-old events.
Greatwallofchina's 100 rating makes him a stand out in the three-year-old maiden but he has also looked less than reliable in two starts this year. John Oxx should have a useful tie-in to his form with the Indian Ridge filly Keriyka.
It's almost 18 months since Nora Chrissie last ran over jumps but some of her flat form since makes it look like she is thrown in at the weights for the handicap hurdle.
Ruby Walsh's Fortune Seeker will be fancied in the mares hurdle but Kerry Allstar might be better value since both her hurdles starts to date were on testing ground. She has some decent bumper form on a faster surface.
