The Irish team for Saturday's Grade One Secretariat Stakes in Chicago has been strengthened with the news that Aidan O'Brien's double Group One winner Ciro will have his last outing for Ballydoyle in the race.
The Woodman colt, promoted to first by the Longchamp stewards in last year's Grand Criterium and also successful at the same track in May's Prix Lupin, was confirmed a runner for Arlington yesterday.
O'Brien said: "Ciro will run for us in the Secretariat and then continue his career in America with another trainer."
Dermot Weld's Pine Dance is also an intended runner in the Secretariat over the same course that he landed the American Derby three weeks ago. Eddie Ahern will again ride the Weld-trained horse.
Ahern then faces a direct dash from Chicago to Dusseldorf in Germany in order to partner the Michael Grassick-trained Margay in Listed fillies race on Sunday afternoon.
Grassick confirmed that plan yesterday and also reported that his top filly Preseli, winner of last year's Moylgare Stud Stakes, has left his yard and is another that could possibly continue her career in the US.
All of which is a long way from the continuing fixture at Tramore where Ahern finds himself this evening with good prospects of winning the last race, the four-runner mile and six maiden with Silent Native.
This one was making ground all the way to the line on the enterprisingly-ridden Sage Dancer in an amateur race at the Galway festival and looks up to coping with the Leopardstown bumper winner Horse Chestnut.
Ahern rides the Daniel Wildenstein-owned Louve Sereine in the mile and four maiden but could have to endure watching Rumson Way getting the best of a another four runner race.
Dariole missed out on what looked a winning opportunity at Sligo last week because of torrential rain in the west but can now get off the mark over hurdles in the opener considering the general calibre of runner that have prevented him doing so up to now.
