Top American rider John Velazquez has been booked to ride the Dermot Weld-trained Port Bayou in Saturday week's Belmont Stakes, but the colt's participation depends on him passing a fitness test tomorrow morning.

The Derrinstown Derby Trial winner was cast in his box on Monday and sustained a slightly pulled muscle in his quarters and Weld yesterday described Port Bayou's Belmont chances as "no more than 50-50".

He added: "If it was a normal race at home, I would just give him a few days off but Port Bayou is due to fly out on Sunday. He is 95 per cent right at the moment but he will have to be 100 per cent before he works on Friday and 100 per cent afterwards if he is to travel. These races are hard enough to win as it is."

Port Bayou will have some light exercise today and is undergoing constant physiotherapy as Weld struggles to get him right for the Belmont, the last leg of the American Triple Crown.

The D Wayne Lukas-trained Charismatic has already won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness and is trying to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. The top US filly Silverbulletday is also a likely runner in New York, but Weld is happy that he has top local knowledge on his side.

"It's the first time that Johnny Velazquez has ridden for me but he is the leading rider in New York at the moment and is very much the main man there. He was a hard guy to get because he had about five other options in the race. He is a very good strong rider and his physical strength is necessary because Port Bayou needs a strong ride," Weld added.

Weld also reported that his Tetrarch winner Major Force is likely to reappear in a Group Two at the Curragh on Derby day.

That Group Two contest is also the target for Noel Meade's Sunshine Street, who will definitely miss Epsom's Coronation Cup. Tentative enquiries have been made about Sunshine Street visiting Australia in the autumn for the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup but Meade tends to favour alternatives in America.

"He showed in Kentucky last year and in Dubai that he handles the dirt well and we are more likely to aim him at races in the States. It's a long time until then though and the Hardwicke is the immediate aim," Meade said yesterday.

The Co Meath trainer also reported that his smart filly Show Me The Money injured her knee in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and misses Royal Ascot.