Carlton House given go-ahead for the Curragh
The Street Cry colt has been the subject of much media frenzy this year, owing to the fact he is owned by Queen Elizabeth.
Victory in the Dante Stakes at York ensured he was sent off hot favourite for the Derby at Epsom, although he did suffer a setback in the week leading up to the race.
He still put up a fine performance to finish third, beaten just a length by Pour Moi, and is set to get another shot at Classic glory this weekend.
A spokeswoman for the Stoute yard confirmed the intention is for the colt to be declared tomorrow, making him the first horse owned by a member of the British royal family to run in the Curragh Classic.
Native Khan, who was a length and a half behind Carlton House in fifth place at Epsom, will also get a second Derby chance. His trainer Ed Dunlop is expecting a bold show, as long as ground conditions are not extreme.
“He’s come out of the English Derby well,” the Newmarket handler told At The Races.
“We’re pretty confident he stays, but we’re under no illusions. It’s going to be very tough again and maybe it’s going to be more of a stamina test, but it’s his last chance of running in a Classic against his own generation. In time we may well drop him in trip.
“He’s in very good form and we’re happy with him.”
Meanwhile top-class fillies Midday and Snow Fairy feature among a field of eight declared for the Stobart Ireland Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh tomorrow.
Henry Cecil’s Midday is a five-time winner at Group One level and ran an excellent race to finish second behind St Nicholas Abbey in the Coronation Cup at Epsom on her latest start.
Snow Fairy, trained by Ed Dunlop, had to make do with the runner-up spot behind her reopposing older rival in last year’s Yorkshire Oaks, but she still enjoyed a spectacular campaign.
The four-year-old grabbed Classic glory in both the English and the Irish Oaks before signing off with victories in Japan and Hong Kong.
She met with a setback earlier this year and, as a result, this weekend’s start is her first since December.
With regular rider Ryan Moore otherwise engaged, Johnny Murtagh comes in for the mount.
Aidan O’Brien saddles Misty For Me and Empowering, while Jim Bolger turns out Claiomh Solais just over a week after she ran down the field in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
David Wachman has been waiting for ease in the going to run Chrysanthemum, who has been absent since finishing seventh to Misty For Me in the Irish 1000 Guineas five weeks ago.
Stobart Ireland Pretty Polly Stakes, Paddy Power bet: 4-5 Midday, 5-2 Snow Fairy, 6-1 Misty For Me, 20-1 Chrysanthemum, 20-1 Claoimh Solais, 25-1 Aoife Alainn, 33-1 Bar
