Weld has thoughts of autumn

Racing Weld campaign: The Curragh yesterday morning was cold and wet enough to make one fear that spring is just a rumour. But as Dermot Weld watched his powerful string thunder up the Old Vic gallop his mind was already thinking ahead to autumn and warmer parts of the world.

Of course Vinnie Roe's presence at the head of the string made the idea of world travel inevitable. It's less than six months since the great stayer ran possibly the race of his life to be runner-up under topweight in the Melbourne Cup. For 2005 his trick will be to try to win the great Australian institution at the third attempt and along the way make it five in a row in the Irish Leger.

But even with a bone fide international superstar carving his way through the wind, all eyes still darted to the younger grey colt behind him. Grey Swallow won the Irish Derby last year and ran in some of Europe's other premier races like the Arc and the Irish Champion Stakes.

For his four-year-old career the latter two are possibles again but intriguingly Weld admitted yesterday he is also thinking of travelling his best horse. History tells us that such thoughts usually make the world sit up.

"I'm very happy with the way Grey Swallow has matured to four. He has got very strong. The Mooresbridge Stakes in a couple of weeks' time is a possible race for him to start off in but if this bad weather continues he might not be just forward enough to run. If that's the case the Tattersalls Gold Cup will be the aim," he said.

However, the man who pioneered the idea of international hit and runs has a less predictable idea for the second half of the season. "He could be trained for the Arc but there are so many races he could run in and I might just plan out instead for a campaign in America. There are races like the Arlington Million and the Turf Classic at Belmont and they would lead up to the Breeders' Cup which is also at Belmont this year," he said.

At the back of his mind is the reality that the competition among the older horse brigade in Europe this year will be intense. Azamour, trained just up the road, is an old rival as is North Light. Throw in the filly Ouija Board, Doyen from Godolphin and Bago from France and there is enough for Weld to exclaim: "It's the best collection of four-year-olds ever in Europe."

Such considerations wash over Vinnie Roe's head, however, and even his usually urbane and cool trainer was moved to gush yesterday about the horse's enthusiasm and will to win.

"He's an amazing horse who is actually more forward than he usually is and because of that we could start him off in the Yorkshire Cup," he said.

The last two classic campaigns have seen Weld win the 2,000 Guineas with Refuse To Bend and the Irish Derby with Grey Swallow. There are no such obvious candidates this time but the trainer is not without hope.

"A lot of our three-year-olds were backward last year and while it looks unlikely now it is always possible one of them could improve.

"Bob's Pride has been our star so far and he is a magnificent looking animal. The Derrinstown is a likely target and if he can take his speed up to a mile and a half he would be a serious horse.

"Etijahaat is a King's Best horse who won at Gowran last year. He won't make the Guineas but he is a nice horse for when the ground gets fast. Of the three-year-old fillies, Dream To Dress is potentially interesting and will start off in a maiden soon," he said.

A decision will be made today about the Loughbrown runner-up Merger going to Sandown on Saturday for the classic trial. But as Weld emphasised: "It's a long year. So many of the big prizes are in the second half of the season. You have to keep that in mind all the time."

Few, if any, manage to do that better.

OLDER HORSES

Grey Swallow: "I am very happy with his mental attitude. He is so laid back and has physically matured. If he doesn't run in the Mooresbridge then we will wait for the Tattersalls. He could either be trained for the Arc or a campaign in America."

Vinnie Roe: "He is the only horse ever to have won the same pattern race four times and he will try to win the Irish St Leger for a fifth time this year. The Ascot Gold Cup and Melbourne Cup are also on the agenda. He is an amazing horse."

Simple Exchange: "He won the American Derby for us last year and in the back of my mind is the idea of him going for the Cox Plate in Australia. Before that we will look at the Royal Ascot meeting in York."

Cairdeas: "He ran a good race in the Alleged Stakes and if he doesn't go to Sandown at the weekend he could run in the Mooresbridge or a Group race in France."

THREE-YEAR-OLDS

Bob's Pride: "It's not by chance he has won his first two races this year. The Derrinstown is a target but if the bad weather continues we will look at the Irish Guineas. On very soft ground you will need more than a miler."

Etijahaat: "The Guineas is too soon for him but he is a big strapping colt who won his maiden well at Gowran. He will be a very nice horse on fast ground."

Dream To Dress: "She looks more like a four-year-old and is still backward. But she is potentially very good."

Gaff: "He won his Stakes at two over seven furlongs but his run at Leopardstown indicated he is a sprinter. He is very fast so we will let him jump and run from now on."