Ground worry for Heliostatic
Jim Bolger is concerned about the prospect of soft ground for Heliostatic in the Group Three Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes tomorrow.
The son of Galileo showed immense promise in his two starts as a two-year-old, going down by just a length to Horatio Nelson in a Curragh maiden over seven furlongs in June before opening his account over tomorrow’s course and distance in a similar contest a month later.
“He’ very well. We’re not sure about the soft going, but he’s running anyway and he’s wintered well,” said Bolger.
Heliostatic warmed up for tomorrow’s race with an eyecatching gallop after racing back at the Curragh on Sunday, after which he was cut by a number of firms for the Vodafone Derby.
But his County Carlow trainer played down the exercise.
“We didn’t ask him very much of him but he seemed to go nicely enough. We’d be hoping that wherever he runs he’ll run well,” he added.
Meanwhile, John Oxx is hoping Caribbean can get his season off to a flying start in the one-mile contest.
The County Kildare handler has sent out one winner from his seven runners so far this season but he is hoping the unexposed three-year-old can get him dreaming of classic glory once more.
But the Derby-winning trainer admits he is somewhat in the dark as to the merit of the Sadler’s Wells colt’s potential
“He’s in good form,” said Oxx. “He’s had a normal winter, a good winter with no hold-ups.
“He’s just a maiden winner at the moment and we won’t no any more than that until he runs but he’s in good form and he should run a good race.
“He’s done plenty of work, he doesn’t mind the soft so it’s not held him up too much at home. He goes through it a lot better than most.
“You wouldn’t know what to make of the race at this stage really, there could be some good horses in there but you won’t know until after the race. They all have a similar profile.”
A small but select field of five will line-up for the trial with James Joyce representing Horatio Nelson’s trainer Aidan O’Brien.
The Danehill colt won the second of his two outings in October, over seven furlongs on this track.
Kevin Prendergast saddles Naas maiden victor Rekaab, who was fourth to Horatio Nelson in a Group Two seven-furlong contest at the Curragh in August.
The fifth member of the party is sole English raider Yasood from Mick Channon’s West Ilsley yard.
He was third to Horatio Nelson in a Group Three at Newmarket in July and was relegated to fourth place for causing interference when first past the post in a Group Three at Longchamp in September.
