Footstepsinthesand favourite for Classic double
The colt’s handler, Aidan O’Brien, was the last trainer to achieve the feat when he saddled Rock Of Gibraltar to win both races three years ago.
The Ballydoyle maestro is also responsible for Newmarket fourth Oratorio, Ad Valorem, Albert Hall, Dark Cheetah, Grand Central, Hills Of Arran and Showdance and his stable is 11-10 with Cashmans to lift the coveted prize.
Footstepsinthesand took the UltimatePoker.com 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in good style by one and a quarter lengths from 100-1 shot Rebel Rebel, who is on course for a rematch at the weekend.
Connections of the colt have paid out 40,000 to add him to the field at yesterday’s supplementary stage. Neville Callaghan’s charge belied his starting price to grab second place under Oscar Urbina.
“He’s fine, absolutely fine so we’ve supplemented him and we are going to take our chance,” Callaghan said.
“Everything is right so if we can stay sound and in one piece until the day we’ll be there.
“I knew he’d run well (in the 2000 Guineas). I didn’t say he’d be second but I thought we might get in the first six where there was prize money.
“It was a surprise to be second but I expected him to run better than 100-1 suggested.
“So I thought we’ve beaten some of these, we’ll take them on again. We’ve got prize money from second to play with although it’s a steep supplement.
“A good, stiff Curragh mile should be in his favour and if we can get in the first four we’ll get our money back.”
Urbina, who has ridden Rebel Rebel in six of his 10 starts, will be on board again on Saturday.
“We think the track will suit him better than Newmarket because it is more of a testing mile,” he told At The Races.
“We are hoping the ground stays good and we’ll have a go again.
“We were disappointed with his previous run at Newmarket when he finished fourth in a Listed race over a mile and one. So we thought he doesn’t want further than a mile.
“We’ve always had confidence in the horse and he ran so well last time that we had to take a chance again over a mile at the Curragh.
“It’s always exciting to be riding in a Group One and we’ll try and do the best we can and fingers crossed we can do that.”
Dubawi, who lost his unbeaten record when finishing fifth behind Footstepsinthesand, is the sole representative of Godolphin.
The Dubai Millennium colt’s chances at Newmarket were not helped by the fast ground, plus a slight stumble early on and a strong tendency to hang left running down into the Dip.
The going at the Curragh is currently described as good, good to firm on the round course with rain forecast for tomorrow.
David Loder’s Aragorn, the Mick Channon-trained Capable Guest and Rebuttal from Brian Meehan’s yard are the other British horses left in the 17-runner 440,000 feature.
The Carlos Laffon-Parias trained Istan is the only French entry left in following the final forfeit.
Local trainers Dermot Weld and John Oxx could run Bobs Pride and Raydan respectively, while County Carlow handler Jim Bolger still has Craven Stakes winner and 2000 Guineas sixth Democratic Deficit in the race.
Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas betting:
The sponsors: 7-4 Footstepsinthesand, 9-4 Dubawi, 7-2 Oratorio, 8-1 Rebel Rebel, Democratic Deficit, 12-1 Raydan, 16-1 Ad Valorem, Bobs Pride, Rebuttal.
Cashmans: 11-10 Aidan O’Brien stable, 6-4 Dubawi, 8-1 Democratic Deficit, 10-1 Rebel Rebel, 16-1 Bobs Pride.
