Rock on course for Derrinstown
The Fastnet Rock colt won a Leopardstown maiden in March before following up in the Ballysax Stakes in impressive fashion and he will aim to continue Weld’s fine start to the season.
Aidan O’Brien holds his usual strong hand with Geoffrey Chaucer, who is also engaged in the French Guineas, Mekong River, who won four of his five starts last season, the once-raced pair of Blue Hussar and Red Rocks Point and Iniesta all possible.
Jim Bolger’s Answered, now owned by Godolphin rather than Sheikh Mohammed, could take on Fascinating Rock again having chased him home in the Ballysax. Bolger could also run Mandatario.
The Ger Lyons-trained Obliterator, second to Godolphin’s Derby hope True Story in the Feilden Stakes, is also in the mix.
John Oxx’s Ebanoran, Johnny Murtagh’s Altruistic and Paul Deegan’s Aussie Valentine are among the 13, too.
Meanwhile, Euro Charline could bid to improve upon her Newmarket effort in the Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh on May 25, should conditions be suitable.
Connections felt she neither handled the undulations nor the quick ground in the Qipco 1000 Guineas on Sunday but were pleased with a prominent showing that saw her take fifth place behind Miss France.
“We were happy enough with the run. We will probably go for the Irish Guineas. We will monitor the ground, but at the moment that is the plan.”
