CURTAIN CALL will attempt to maintain his excellent Curragh record this Sunday after trainer Luca Cumani confirmed yesterday the colt will contest the Group Two Royal Whip Stakes, reports
BRIAN O'CONNOR
A Beresford Stakes winner as a juvenile when trained by Jessica Harrington, Curtain Call returned earlier this season to land the Mooresbridge Stakes in impressive style. He also ran a fine race in last year’s Irish Derby when badly interfered with in the closing stages.
“He goes to Ireland and everything is fine with him. His work seems good and he’s a happy horse,” Cumani said. “He probably should have finished second in his last start at York. We just hope there is more cut in the ground at the Curragh.”
That is precisely what John Oxx hopes won’t occur at York on Tuesday after leaving Sea The Stars in the Juddmonte International at yesterday’s five-day stage.
“We have made the entry for Tuesday but I am just a bit worried about the weather forecast for the weekend. It is supposed to be wet and if all that is forecast falls it would turn the ground soft,” said Oxx yesterday.
“If there is any soft in the description that would be enough to put us off even though he won his maiden on very soft ground last year. We work him quite a bit on grass at the Curragh and he has worked on soft ground. He just doesn’t have the same bounce on it. You would notice the difference. I hope it is black and white either way. The worst thing is an in-between decision,” he added.
