Dance Design will remain in training

The 1996 Irish Oaks winner, Dance Design, will remain in training with Dermot Weld next season after fetching a European record 2.5 million guineas at the Newmarket Sales.

Dance Design was sent for auction by the Moyglare Stud on Wednesday night and smashed the previous record for a filly sold at public auction which was held by Luna Wells, for whom 1.7 million guineas was paid last year.

Dance Design is now owned by the Florida based software manufacturer, Satish Sanan, who paid a world record 2.5 million guineas for a foal earlier in the week. That full brother to the Epsom Derby and King George winner, Generous, will be trained by Weld, who was delighted to retain Dance Design for another season's racing.

"I'm very pleased and she definitely stays in training," the Curragh trainer said from Newmarket yesterday.

Dance Design won three of her seven starts for Weld last season, including the Rogers Gold Cup, but had a rather disappointing end to the year when running down the field in the Breeders' Cup and also the Yellow Ribbon Stakes at Santa Anita.

Thurles get a second bite at the cherry after yesterday's scheduled fixture had to be called off because of freezing fog. Fortunately, the forecast is for the disappearance of the fog.

The Thurles manager Pierce Molony said yesterday: "The forecast is much better and I don't predict any trouble in running it off this time. It was only at 8.15 this morning that the fog came down atrociously. Now the forecast is for 4 in the morning and even rain by midday. It's the sublime to the ridiculous!"

Even 24 hours later, it's still difficult to get away from Magical Lady in the opener as the most attractive bet on the card. Already boasting good chase form when runner-up to Livin' It Up at Navan last March, she certainly won't lack for fitness, judged on her impressive nine-furlong flat win at the Curragh in late October. That fitness edge should still give Magical Lady the advantage over Aidan O'Brien's representative, Kilcoo Boy.

Tony Martin looks a significant booking for The Quads in the qualified riders Beginners Chase, where the gelding's undoubted stamina should come significantly into play in the closing stages.

Bypharbeanri has been realising his potential in recent months and is on a hat-trick in the Munster Handicap Hurdle. He carries a penalty for his defeat of Honey Trader at Listowel and also has to face Digital Signal, but looks up to defying both.

Leopardstown will have an unlikely race sponsor this Christmas when the Punchestown track adopt that role on the second day of the festival. The race will be called the 1998 Punchestown Irish National Hunt Festival Meeting April 28th-29th-30th Hurdle.

The Punchestown manager, Charlie Murless, said yesterday: "We are using it as an opportunity to assure everyone that everything is on schedule for the re-development of Punchestown."