Cat entered in Curragh sprint
Classic disappointment One Cool Cat could revert to sprinting in a bid to get his career back on track at the Curragh on Sunday.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt, sent off as favourite for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May only to beat one home, is one of 15 entries for the Group Three Patrick P O’Leary Memorial Phoenix Sprint Stakes over six furlongs.
One Cool Cat was found to be suffering from an irregular heartbeat after the race and he then missed the Irish equivalent after a routine scope revealed a low-grade infection.
The son of Storm Cat returned to action at the Curragh last month, but was again a costly failure for odds-on backers as he finished fifth of seven in the International Stakes over a mile, leaving O’Brien stunned.
Possible rivals include Ashdown Express, although Chris Wall’s July Cup runner-up is more likely to head to the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville the same day.
O’Brien has also entered Grand Reward and Newton, while the other British contenders at the possibles stage are the Mick Channon trio Millbag, Nights Cross and Royal Millennium, Hughie Morrison’s Ruby Rocket, Alan Berry’s Simianna and the David Evans-trained The Kiddykid.
Elsewhere on the card Damson, ante-post favourite for next year’s 1000 Guineas, will face a maximum of 16 opponents in the Group One Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes.
David Wachman’s unbeaten juvenile leapt to the head of the Classic market after slaughtering a high-class field in the Queen Mary Stakes at the Royal meeting.
The daughter of Entrepreneur showed an electric turn of foot to beat subsequent Princess Margaret Stakes winner Soar by three lengths in a race which is working out extremely well.
O’Brien’s Carnegie Hall could give her a stern examination as the Danehill colt was an impressive winner of his maiden at this track last month.
Big Bad Bob, Fruhlingssturm, Gatwick, Imperial Dancer and Muqbil are all potential British runners against 2002 Melbourne Cup hero Media Puzzle in the 10-furlong Royal Whip Stakes.
Imperial Dancer was beaten three-quarters of a length by High Chaparral in the Group Two race last year.
