Racing Derby newsKris Kin's absence from Sunday's Budweiser Irish Derby looks to have left the door open for Dalakhani with connections of the unbeaten French superstar dismissing any fears about the going for their colt.
"I think he is a horse for whom the ground makes no difference," said Pat Downes, manager of the Aga Khan's Gilltown Stud yesterday. "It was pretty quick when he won the Prix du Jockey Club and when he won his Group One last year it was bottomless. We're pretty happy he goes on anything," added Downes.
That confidence also seemed to permeate the ante-post prices offered by bookmakers with Paddy Power making Dalakhani a 4 to 9 favourite to complete the French-Irish Derby double last achieved by Montjeu in 1999.
A total of 11 colts were left in at yesterday's forfeit stage but a maximum field of eight looks likely with only the Jim Bolger-trained Napper Tandy upsetting the dominance of the Aga Khan and Ballydoyle camps.
Alisar looks like being the sole pacemaker for the Aga Khan-owned stars while Aidan O'Brien confirmed yesterday that he is likely to run a quartet consisting of Epsom runner-up The Great Gatsby, Brian Boru, Handel and Powerscourt from his entry of six.
"Those are the four possibles at the moment but it will be a day or two before we decide about jockeys," O'Brien said.
O'Brien is looking for a third Irish Derby in a row and a fourth in all.
However, the Aga is on the verge of achieving a remarkable fifth victory in Ireland's premier classic after Shergar (1981), Shahrastani (1986), Kahyasi (1988) and Sinndar (2000.)
Kris Kin's absence means that target looks more reachable and there was disappointment among the Curragh authorities that the Michael Stoute-trained horse, winner of the Epsom Derby, wasn't supplemented into the race for €95,000 yesterday.
"The ground is very firm I gather and we've decided to leave it," said Joe Mercer, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail.
"The horse is fine, he would just prefer a bit of cut and I should think you'll see him in the King George (July 27th)."
However, the ground at the Curragh was yesterday rated "good to firm" and the track manager Paul Hensey pointed to Kris Kin having won twice before on such a surface.
Nevertheless he added: "Kris Kin was never actually committed so it would have been an added bonus had he come. As it is we still have a great race in prospect.
"We will re-evaluate about watering tomorrow when we have a more accurate forecast but there is a threat of rain on Saturday. As it is though, there is no jar and it is perfect, quick ground."
Paddy Power bet: 4-9 Dalakhani, 100-30 Alamshar, 5 The Great Gatsby, 16 Handel and Brian Boru, 33 Powerscourt, 50 Napper Tandy, 66 Rayshan, 100 Alisar, 150 High Country and Roosevelt.
Sunday's main supporting race will be the Railway Stakes for two year olds and Aidan O'Brien confirmed that Antonius Pius is his "most possible" runner in the Group Three.
Other home stars among the 16-strong entry include the Dermot Weld pair of Steel Light and Oversighted while there are four British-trained entries, including David Loder's Byron and Parkview Lane from Mark Johnston's in-form yard.
Christophe Soumillon could warm-up for his ride on Dalakhani on the Aga Khan's Rayshan in the Curragh Cup on Saturday. The French jockey has also been engaged by James Toller to ride the useful filly Hanami in the Group Two Pretty Polly Stakes.
