The Curragh is set to benefit from a change in plan for the 1,000 Guineas favourite Flashy Wings who is now set to tackle some of the best of the Irish juvenile fillies in Sunday's Moyglare Stud Stakes.
Mick Channon, a Moyglare winner already in 2002 with Mail The Desert, has decided to give his star filly an early chance at Group One glory now that Flashy Wings is likely to get the good ground she requires.
"If everything stays right with her for the rest of the week then I think it's go!" the trainer said yesterday after his unbeaten star was one of 17 left in Sunday's Group One highlight.
Flashy Wings added to a scintillating Queen Mary success with a smooth victory in the Lowther Stakes at York last time out after which the original plan was to wait for the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket next month.
However Channon said yesterday: "We were set for the Cheveley Park but that would mean taking a chance on the ground not coming up soft at Newmarket which it sometimes does at that time of year. And we all know that horses by Zafonic don't really like it soft."
He added: "She worked smashing this morning, I've talked to the owner and we're all very pleased with her. The people at the Curragh are expecting a good week and I must say it was beautiful ground when I was over there the other week."
Channon has also left in Almost Spinning in the Moyglare but she is a doubtful traveller.
The trainer currently dominates the betting for next year's 1,000 Guineas with Flashy Wings an 8 to 1 market leader with Ladbrokes and her stable companion Silca's Sister, the Prix Morny winner, next best at 10 to 1.
Rumplestiltskin is next best at 12 to 1 and that filly, winner of the Debutante Stakes last time out, is one of three possible runners for Aidan O'Brien who is looking for a fourth Moyglare win since 2000.
"Rumplestiltskin, Beauty Bright and Race For The Stars are all possibles," the Ballydoyle trainer said yesterday.
"It will be Kieren's decision as to who he rides but he has always liked Rumplestiltskin."
O'Brien described Flashy Wing's likely participation as being "good for the race" and he will have a line to the Channon runner with Beauty Bright having run third to Flashy Wings in the Lowther.
John Gosden has left in Pure Illusion, a Danehill filly, who won her second start at Newmarket by three lengths while Jim Bolger has the Tyros winner Mohdeeroch and Sandie left in the race.
A total of seven of the 13 entries left in the Nolan and Brophy Auctioneers Flying Five are trained in Britain and they include The Tatling and Majestic Missile, second and third respectively in the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes at York.
The Ballysax Stakes winner Bob's Pride figures among the 27 entries left in the Ladbrokes.ie Cambridgeshire while the Goodwood disappointment Aussie Rule is one of 11 left in the Group Three Go And Go Round Tower Stakes.
The going at the Curragh is "good" and with a mixed forecast for the week ahead little change is expected before Sunday's big race which was won last year by Chelsea Rose.
Aidan O'Brien and Kieren Fallon are represented in the Group Three Strensall Stakes at York this afternoon by the Magnet Cup winner Mullins Bay who faces a tough task against the Juddmonte International runner up Mahaarel. Jim Bolger's Democratic Deficit is the other Irish runner in the nine-furlong event.
The home action, however, is at Clonmel where Ruby Walsh and Wild Bill Hickok could be the answer to the maiden hurdle.
There will be no one more anxious for a win however than the connections of Aweless who runs in the mile and a quarter maiden. As a daughter of Seattle Slew, any sort of victory would be invaluable for this filly who was beaten less than five lengths on her only career start to date at the Curragh last October.
Peruvian Athlete was always prominent when third to Ansar at Wexford on Sunday and could be worth a chance in the women's handicap despite a half mile drop in trip.
