Racing: Horatio Nelson has to follow in some illustrious footsteps if he is to win today's Curragh feature but Aidan O'Brien's impeccably-bred colt should still be able to retain his unbeaten record.
The son of Danehill and the Epsom Oaks and Irish Guineas heroine Imagine made a winning debut in June over the course and distance of this afternoon's Galileo Futurity and then followed up with an impressive success in Group Three company at Newmarket's July meeting.
Now Horatio Nelson has to step up another grade to this Group Two which O'Brien has won in four of the last five years with such stars as Giants Causeway (1999), Hawk Wing (2001) and Oratorio last season.
Just four line up against him, including the English raider Silent Times who was runner-up to the rated Close To You at Newbury last time out. Along with Rekaab he will provide a decent test for the Ballydoyle hope but O'Brien's top juveniles seem to hold the aces over their contemporaries this season and Horatio Nelson can prove the point.
A total of 26 horses line up for the €300,000 Tatts Sale Stakes but even with such a large field it's hard to escape the conclusion that Cool Creek has all the required credentials.
Not only has the colt got the single best piece of form, a neck defeat by the classic hope Sir Percy in Goodwood's Champagne Stakes, he also represents Richard Hannon, who won this valuable pot five times in a row between 1996 and 2000. Throw in Michael Kinane, who has won it the last two times, plus a perfect draw in box three, and it's a hard argument to counter.
The last home winner was in 1995 but Dryandra, trained by the Gold Cup winner Tom Taaffe, is an interesting prospect. There appears little doubt though that Cool Creek looks the one to beat for the big pay day.
Osterhase tries to follow up his 2002 Belgrave Stakes win on the back of defeating Balmont here two weeks ago. A return to fast conditions for Bali Royal, however, makes Tommy Stacks's runner an each-way alternative.
Redstone Dancer started favourite on her debut at Roscommon on Monday but ran very green and was well beaten. The experience could prove beneficial in the mile maiden while Thursday's Bellewstown winner Paris Sue looks interesting in the six-furlong handicap.
