North Light bypasses Curragh for Sandown
The four-year-old, winner of last year’s Vodafone Derby, was expected to contest the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup but he was a surprise absentee at yesterday’s five-day confirmation stage.
Trainer Sir Michael Stoute confirmed that connections have decided the Group Three contest at Sandown on May 31 would be a better starting point for the son of Danehill.
“I felt we needed a little more time and the plan is to go for the Brigadier Gerard,” Stoute said.
With North Light out of the race, it is last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Bago who heads the list of possible runners.
The four-year-old will be trying for a quick Group One double after making a successful reappearance in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp last month.
He is one of two entries for trainer Jonathan Pease with stablemate Imago Mundi, who is also owned by the Niarchos family, in the race as a likely pacemaker.
Aidan O’Brien has three possibles to choose from with one-time Vodafone Derby hope Yeats entered along with Ace and Solskjaer.
John Oxx has left in Azamour but his participation is in some doubt after suffering a minor setback yesterday.
Grey Swallow, winner of last year’s Irish Derby, is set to make his first appearance of 2005 in the €155,000 race, while David Elsworth’s Norse Dancer is the sole British raider.
Carlos Laffon-Parias’ Delfos, winner of the Prix d’Harcourt, completes the line-up.
Cashmans make Bago their 4-7 favourite with Grey Swallow next best on 11-4.
They have not quoted a price for Azamour due to the doubt over his participation.
