Aidan O'Brien has opened up the possibility of a pre-Breeders Cup trip to the USA for the enigmatic champion miler George Washington with Keeneland's Shadwell Turf Mile now an option for the superstar four-year-old.
A repeat bid on Saturday week's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot was reported as likely stop-off point for "Gorgeous George" after his third to Darjina in the Prix Du Moulin at Longchamp earlier in the month but no definite arrangements have been drawn up for the horse.
"Ascot is a possible for George Washington but it's not certain. The Breeders' Cup Mile is there for him, too, and there's also the Keeneland Mile to consider. We will come up with a plan for him," the champion trainer said yesterday.
O'Brien has twice won the Keeneland Mile with Landseer in 2002 and Aussie Rules last season and the $600,000 event takes place this year a week after the QEII.
A trip to Keeneland on October 6th would mean a return to Kentucky where George Washington wound up his three-year-old career with an unplaced effort in the Breeders' Cup Classic on the dirt at Churchill Downs.
Looking ahead to other international events, O'Brien also indicated that Scorpion could be the most likely Ballydoyle hope for November's Melbourne Cup at Flemington although he insisted no final running plans have been drawn up for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
"Dylan Thomas and Soldier Of Fortune are still heading towards the Arc and Peeping Fawn is in all the races including the Arc and the Prix de l'Opera," he said.
This weekend O'Brien has three possible starters for the Group Two Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury with Warsaw and Magna Cum Laude joining Achilles Of Troy in the entries for the six-furlong event.
Another Irish possible for Newbury on Saturday is City Of Tribes who Ger Lyons has entered for the Group Three Dubai International Airport World Trophy.
The feature here on Saturday will be the Listed Diamond Stakes at Fairyhouse for which 23 entries remain. They include Dermot Weld's Melbourne Cup hopeful Bellamy Cay who ran last in the Irish St Leger last weekend as well Fracas from Dermot Weld's yard.
Listowel's festival continues this afternoon with the €50,000 Guinness Handicap Hurdle featuring a likely favourite for the Tony Martin-Ruby Walsh combination.
Stage Manager is a full 20lb higher in the ratings for a pair of easy wins at Killarney and Roscommon but has been so impressive in both of those races that he should still be a hard nut to crack today.
Martin and Walsh look to have an even better candidate for the following novice hurdle with the versatile Imperial Rose who won the "Apprentice Derby" at the Curragh in June and has been in consistent form since.
A second to Jalwada at Leopardstown on Champion Stakes day was a fine effort and the grey looks a decent bet to cope with the 123 rated Lyceum.
Diamond Shower was a 20 to 1 shot when runner-up to Taralaya at Galway but there'll be nothing like that available for the mile-and-a-half handicap on the back of Taralaya's subsequent form-boosting victory at the Curragh.
Tom Taaffe's Breaking Silence will be a leading contender for the Beginners Chase but could face an unknown factor in Charlie Swan's smart hurdler Gripit N Tipit who may be up to winning first time of asking.
