CURRAGH PREVIEW: Johannesburg, the best two-year-old in the world last season, starts his three-year-old career at the Curragh tomorrow with Aidan O'Brien insisting the colt is not a definite for the Kentucky Derby, writes Brian O'Connor

An unbeaten seven-race career so far, including four Group Ones in four different countries, will count for nothing in the Gladness Stakes as Johannesburg begins again from scratch.

Ballydoyle greats like Nijinsky and El Gran Senor started their classic campaigns in the Group Three , but which classic Johannesburg will go for is still open to question.

"If we run anything in the Kentucky Derby, it will be either Johannesburg or Castle Gandolfo, but it would be unfair to say any race is in or out at the moment," O'Brien said yesterday.

"Like all the rest of them, Johannesburg is in everything. He is ready to go racing and we have been very happy with his work, but of course he will come on for the run."

Castle Gandolfo's declaration for the Fosters Trial on the dirt at Lingfield today, combined with pedigree doubts about Johannesburg over 10 furlongs, means it would be foolish to presume another American venture for the Breeders' Cup winner.

But either way it will be disappointing if Johannesburg doesn't retain his unbeaten status against six older horses that include his stable companion, Shoal Creek.

Taking on older horses at this time of year is hard for the classic prospects, and the going is hardly ideal. But Giant's Causeway managed to do it two years ago and Johannesburg looks almost freakish last season.

O'Brien, who plans to run Ballingarry in the French Derby trial, the Prix Noailles, at Longchamp tomorrow, also gives Gallileo's brother, Black Sam Bellamy, another start in the 10-furlong maiden.

John Oxx's string has been in supreme form so far this Flat season, but a lot of money went astray with Elapour at Cork last weekend.

He is upped to two miles now and the experience should be crucial, although Elapour does have to take on the top National Hunt performers , Limestone Lad and Ned Kelly, who are being readied for Punchestown.

• Norman Williamson is free to ride Banker Count for Mick Easterby's stable in the Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan next Saturday.

A one-day ban picked up at Aintree on Thursday which had originally prevented the jockey from participating in the very valuable contest was yesterday switched by the Jockey Club.

The new date for Williamson's ban has yet to be decided.