Weld team eye US double

RACING: Dermot Weld is targeting the three-year-old pair Jazz Beat and Saranac Lake at a Grade One double in the US next month. Brian O'Connor reports

Jazz Beat was a threequarter -length runner-up in the American Derby in Arlington last Sunday and will return to the Chicago track for the Secretariat Stakes on August 17th.

On the same day, the filly Saranac Lake will also make a second trip of the year to America for the Del Mar Oaks. Earlier this month Saranac Lake was unplaced in a Grade One at the same Californian track.

"Jazz Beat ran an excellent race at the weekend. He took it up on the home turn but just got caught. He will most likely go for the Secretariat next.

"Saranac Lake will run in the Platinum Stakes at Cork before hopefully going for the Del Mar Oaks," Weld confirmed yesterday.

Aidan O'Brien has nominated the Secretariat as a possible target for the Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Century City. O'Brien won the Arlington contest two years ago with Ciro.

In the shorter term, however, the Ballydoyle trainer's overseas raids could continue on Sunday with Ontario being an entry for the Prix Robert Papin. The Anglesey Stakes winner is one of five overseas entries for the Group Two contest at Maisons-Laffitte.

O'Brien last night decided to run either Bach or Della Francesca in Saturday's Meld Stakes at the Curragh and so will not be represented in the King George at Ascot on the same day.

The Weld team has both Jammaal and Sights On Gold in the Meld and the trainer said yesterday: "One or both of them could run but we are undecided as yet."

The official ground forecast for tonight's eight-race Tipperary card is a welcome "good to firm" and that can help Michael Kinane to a quick double.

The season's leading rider again teams up with Settle, who has to carry 5lb extra for winning at Leopardstown on Saturday. The standard penalty should not stop the double up.

Kinane teams up with the latest Ballydoyle juvenile to hit the track in the opener, and the Danehill colt, Academy Award, will have to be smart to cope with Lawood and Dramadoir first time out.

Ritchie Rich has been running into form in his recent starts and it could be pay-off time for the sprinter in the five-furlong handicap.

After a number of crashes, Brief Dance managed to stay on his feet at Tramore last time and win under Paul Carberry. The pair can follow up in the novice hurdle.

Sakhee's participation in Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes looks to be in doubt after Godolphin's Simon Crisford walked the Ascot track yesterday.

The current good to firm going would not be certain to suit the five-year-old horse, who won last year's Prix de l'Arc De Triomphe Lucien Barriere by six lengths.

Sakhee has not been seen on a racecourse since finishing third to stable-companion Street Cry in the Dubai World Cup last March and it would seem racing fans may have to wait a little longer if the current dry spell holds.

Crisford told Godolphin's official website: "We walked the track and the going is good to firm - fast summer ground. We are really hoping for some rain now for Sakhee to take his chance."