O’Connor on course for 2,000 Guineas Trial
Aidan O’Brien’s colt got closest to Frankel in the Dewhurst last autumn before a successful raid to France which saw him secure the Group One Criterium International at Saint-Cloud.
Among the potential opposition is Kevin Prendergast’s Anglesey Stakes winner Dunboyne Express, who went on to finish fifth in the Racing Post Trophy behind Casamento.
Prendergast said: “We'll see how they both get on in work on Thursday morning before we decide about Sunday. Things didn–t go well for Dunboyne Express when he ran fifth behind Casamento in the Racing Post Trophy but I’m happy with him since.”
Prendergast also has Mawaakef in the mix, with Exodus and High Ruler adding strength to O’Brien’s hand.
A Word Apart, Cocozza, Imperial Rome and Whipless complete the list of possibles.
Aidan O’Brien’s dual Group One winner Misty For Me appears among 21 entries for Sunday’s Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes.
The daughter of Galileo won the Moyglare Stud Stakes before tasting success in the Prix Marcel Boussac across the Channel at Longchamp on Arc day.
The three-year-old is one of five entries for the master of Ballydoyle, with Empowering, Juliet Capulet, Together and Wild Wind also engaged.
John Oxx could be represented by course winner Manieree, Curragh scorer History Note and Naas winner Redskin Dancer, while Dermot Weld is able to call on Midnight Music and Zaminast.
Deire Na Sli, Gossamer Seed and Seeharn are other interesting contenders.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Noseda’s big 2,000 Guineas hope Peter Martins will miss the Newmarket Classic on April 30 after sustaining a leg injury that will keep him sidelined until the second half of the season.
The son of Johannesburg looked to have a big future ahead of him when scoring by five lengths on his sole start in a novice race at Newmarket last July.
Peter Martins then had a hiccup whilst being prepared for the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster in the autumn, a problem that also ruled him out of a potential showdown with Frankel and Dream Ahead in Newmarket's Dewhurst Stakes.
Peter Martins had enjoyed a trouble-free winter at Shalfleet Stables and had pleased connections in his early work on Racecourse Side. However, he missed work at the weekend when the leg problem first arose.
