RACING/Curragh preview: Aidan O'Brien's six-in-a-row winning streak in Europe's first top-flight race of the year for juveniles was brought to an end by Damson last season, but the likely odds-on favourite George Washington can resume normal service at the Curragh tomorrow.
Just seven line up for the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes and any which way its looked at, the Ballydoyle number one looks to have all the suitable credentials.
George Washington has already won twice over the course and distance and his narrow defeat of the subsequent Anglesey winner Amigoni in the Railway Stakes had his jockey Kieren Fallon proclaiming him the "best two-year-old around".
That no doubt helped to make Grandera's half-brother favourite in some books for next year's Guineas, but the subsequent actions of his stable companions, Ivan Denisovich and Horatio Nelson, means he has some company at the top of the Classic betting.
Nevertheless, George Washington is the O'Brien pick for a race that such previous Ballydoyle champions as Johannesburg (2001) and Fasliyev (1999) used as a platform to juvenile titles.
Up against him are a pair of English challengers, Red Clubs and Guest Connections, who were both beaten out of sight by Ivan Denisovich in the July Stakes at Newmarket.
Shinko Dancer and Ugo Fire are big outsiders while Amadeus Mozart looks to be in the race to guarantee a decent pace for his stable companion. In the circumstances Namaya looks the most likely danger as he only has a length to make up on Railway Stakes form.
Namaya has since won easily at Naas, but the form of that race has not worked out particularly well and there is no doubt but that considerable improvement is expected form George Washington.
It could turn out to be a very good day for the Aidan O'Brien-Kieren Fallon team as Hawk Wing's half-sister Race For The Stars skips the Debutante Stakes in favour of the opening maiden which leaves the Group Two pot for Rumplestiltskin to pick up.
The latter has a length to make up Jeremy Noseda's Vague on Albany Stakes form at York, but crucially Rumplestiltskin now has seven furlongs to cover.
"Once she goes up in trip she will improve a hell of a lot," was Fallon's comment after the filly won at Naas and a slow start as well as a noticeable drift on very fast ground didn't help her cause at York. It should be a different story now.
The Royal Whip is the Group Two prize on the card and with a dry weekend expected to dry out the round course, maybe Tropical Lady can confirm Meld Stakes form with Cairdeas and Latino Magic.
Certainly, Jim Bolger's filly would be an appropriate winner as she was palpably unlucky not to win the Royal Whip last year when edged out by a head by Solskjaer.
Just over half the 15-strong field for the Phoenix Sprint are British-trained and the best of them appears to be Balmont who can bounce successfully from a good rail draw under Michael Kinane.
Balmont was hardly suited by racing in the middle of the track in the July Cup and this task should be more suitable even if both Damson and Democratic Deficit revert from miling for this Group Three. Kinane also looks to have a winning shout in the seven-furlong handicap with Cork winner Who Could Tell.
