It is now just 3 to 1 about Aidan O'Brien completing a remarkable clean sweep of the Irish classics and Imagine is sure to be a warm order to continue the hot streak in Sunday week's Kildangan Stud Irish Oaks.
The Ballydoyle trainer gave an upbeat bulletin on the double Classic winning filly yesterday as well as reporting Galileo to be "fine " after his Budweiser Irish Derby success on Sunday.
However, O'Brien continues to play a straight bat to questions regarding possible future race stops before Galileo's ultimate target in October's Breeders' Cup Classic.
"We haven't decided yet and I wouldn't like to rule out any race," said O'Brien who on Sunday appeared to lean towards the Irish Champion Stakes in September as a possible next outing for the unbeaten colt.
Galileo did enough at the weekend to impress the handicappers who rate the horse 2lb better than Sinndar at the same stage last year. Galileo has been given a 130 rating after consultations between the British and Irish handicappers.
"It is quite a difficult performance to assess but he has beaten both the horses he beat at Epsom by further and he has every chance of achieving an even higher rating later in the season," Geoffrey Gibbs said yesterday.
As for Imagine, O'Brien said yesterday: "It's a case of so far, so good with the filly and the Irish Oaks is the aim. I wouldn't think quick ground would be a worry. It was fast at Epsom and the Curragh track should suit her."
Cashmans, who had offered 33 to 1 about a classic clean sweep following the Irish Guineas meeting, seem to be resigned to depending on the St Leger to bail them out of trouble.
Before resuming the classic trail, the Ballydoyle camp are aiming at Saturday's £325,000 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, a race they won last year with Giant's Causeway.
Black Minnaloushe, the 9 to 4 favourite with Coral, was the winner of the Entenmann's Irish 2000 Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on his last two starts, and was supplemented for £20,000 last Saturday. "The plan is to run Black Minnaloushe and Bach has come out of his race on Sunday well. We might run one other, either Darwin or Bonnard, but they won't be pacemakers. There should be plenty of pace in the race anyway."
Tobougg has been installed the 11 to 4 second favourite by the sponsors after Godolphin opted to keep their options open. The Vodafone Derby third, who missed the Irish equivalent on Sunday, is one of five Godolphin possibles out of a total of 15 horses left in at yesterday's confirmation stage.
"Our main pair in the race are Fantastic Light and Tobougg and I would say that it was unlilkely that both would run. A decision will be made on Thursday," said Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford.
Last year's French Derby winner Holding Court will miss the race unless the predicted rain softens the ground. Medicean, winner of the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes and the Queen Anne Stakes for Michael Stoute is expected to provide strong opposition from the older generation.
The official going at Sandown for their three-day meeting starting on Friday is good to firm (watering).
