Ikhtyara a possible for Curragh

Connections of the lightly-raced Ikhtyar are considering supplementing the well-bred colt for the Entenmann’s Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday.

But if they decide not to fork out €40,000 by noon to put the half-brother to last season’s French 2000 hero Landseer in the Curragh Classic, he is likely to run at Kempton the same day instead.

“Nothing has been decided yet. He’ll either run in the Heron Stakes at Kempton or he will be supplemented for the Irish 2000 Guineas,” said Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.

“I shall discuss it with Sheikh Hamdan.”

The John Gosden-trained son of Unfuwain, who holds entries in the Vodafone Derby and the St James’s Palace Stakes, only made his racing debut last month.

After finishing third in a Newbury maiden, he opened his account in impressive fashion with a five-length win over Always Esteemed at Sandown. Both his races so far have been over a mile.

Asked if the horse had pleased since his Sandown run, Gold remarked: “Very much so.”

Another horse, owned by Sheikh Hamdan, that may be supplemented for a Classic at a future date, is Hammiya.

The Marcus Tregoning-trained filly emerged as a possible candidate for the Vodafone Oaks when winning the Cheshire Oaks at Chester earlier this month.

“I haven’t talked to the owner yet. Obviously she’s potentially a very nice filly. There’s every possibility Sheikh Hamdan might want to do that but I haven’t asked him the question,” said Gold.