Top trainers plans for Irish Derby weekend

Monday, 16 June 2003 14:32

Curragh trainer Dermot Weld announced that last years Ribblesdale and Blandford Stakes heroine Irresistible Jewel is to take her seasonal bow in Saturday's Audi Pretty Polly Stakes. "She has come to herself and will take her chance in the Group 2 contest, " said Weld. John Oxx expects to be represented in Saturday's feature by Miss Honorine, while Aidan O'Brien revealed that Butterfly Blue is his intended runner in the 10 furlong contest.

Weld's Steel Light, impressive winner of his maiden at the Curragh in April and subsequently a close up third behind Newtown in the Listed Isabel Morris Memorial Marble Hill Stakes, has been confirmed on course for the Group 2 Anheuser-Busch Railway Stakes on Budweiser Irish Derby day.

The Curragh based trainer also confirmed that Maharib will take his chance in Saturday's Group 3 IAWS Curragh Cup, "Marharib won a mile and a half Listed race at Limerick the other day," said Weld, He has a rating of 108 and is entitled to take his chance." Aidan O'Brien is targeting the race with Roosevelt, while John Oxx will choose between Limerick winner Rayshan and impressive Curragh maiden winner Icklingham.

Filed by Brendan Cole