RACING - News and preview: Aidan O'Brien's reach this weekend will stretch from Chicago to Normandy and back to the Curragh as the champion trainer goes in search of a Group One bonanza in three countries.
Ace will try to land his first top-flight prize in Saturday night's Arlington Million, a race O'Brien and Kieren Fallon won impressively with Powerscourt last year.
But with the racing authorities in Illinois recognising the British ban on Fallon, no riding arrangements have been finalised for Ace or the three-year-old Ivan Denisovich, who will try to repeat O'Brien's Grade One Secretariat Stakes victory with Ciro in 2000.
"Both of them landed in America on Sunday and they seem to be fine after the trip and are settling in," O'Brien said yesterday. "I don't know yet what we are going to do about jockeys."
On his last trip to the USA, Ace was runner-up to Shirocco in the Breeders' Cup Turf and a repeat of that form would leave him with a big chance in a race for which there are 11 pre-entries.
They include the Andrew Balding-trained Phoenix Reach, who hasn't run in over a year, and the French-trained Touch Of Land. Germany's Soldier Hollow is the fourth European hopeful.
The Manhattan Handicap winner Cacique is likely to lead the home team.
Fallon is likely to be in action at the Curragh the following day, where Holy Roman Emperor will try to complete the Railway Stakes-Phoenix Stakes double achieved by his stable companion George Washington last year.
The Ballydoyle team will also be represented by the Queen Anne Stakes-winner Ad Valorem in Deauville's Group One feature on the same afternoon, the Prix de Haras de Fresnay Buffard Jacques Le Marois.
"The plan is to run Ad Valorem but I don't know yet who will ride him," said O'Brien. "Kieren will hopefully stay home for Holy Roman Emperor, who looks to be in good form."
He confirmed Goodwood's Celebration Mile remains the likely return date for the Guineas hero George Washington.
Jim Bolger has confirmed the Baileys Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown next month could be the next stop for Alexander Goldrun after her epic run in Saturday's Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, when pipped by Ouija Board.
The September 9th highlight, which is also the intended target of Godolphin's Electrocutionist and the Eclipse hero David Junior, could see Alexander Goldrun and Ouija Board clash again as the latter's trainer, Ed Dunlop, hasn't ruled out a quick reappearance.
Bolger, though, has another option at Leopardstown as Alexander Goldrun is in the Group One Matron Stakes as well.
"We are leaning towards the Champion at the moment but we will wait and see what comes up in the line of a colt. It was a top-drawer effort on Saturday, as was the winner's," said Bolger.
Kieren Fallon is in Roscommon this evening and a clear passage through the opening seven-furlong maiden should see the former champion jockey collect on Striking.
The David Wachman-trained filly was an odds-on favourite at Fairyhouse on her last start but couldn't haul back Maraldiya after a particularly canny ride in front from Michael Kinane.
With the John Oxx newcomer Maysa looking the mostly likely danger this evening, Striking can finally break her duck.
The championship-chasing Declan McDonogh and John Murtagh can each collect, the latter on board Symbol Of Peace in the 10-furlong maiden. McDonogh is on the topweight Breaker Morant in the seven-furlong handicap. A good draw will help this horse offset a stone rise in the weights since a course-and-distance win last month.
Irish Stream ran four times over fences last year but they were all on soft ground and the change in surface should see him go close in the handicap chase.
