Rock-Steady Crew

Just two shy of Dr. Vincent O'Brien's record of 15 winners of The Curragh's G3 Airlie Stud Gallinule S., Aidan O'Brien holds a strong hand again on Sunday with four of the seven in the line-up, headed by last year's G2 Beresford S.-third Beacon Rock (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor's bay was fourth in Leopardstown's G2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial S. over this trip last time May 8, and is the choice of Ryan Moore over his three stablemates, including the May 6 Listed Dee S.-third Housesofparliament (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Interestingly, Dermot Weld has opted to re-oppose the latter with Stronach Stables's Flying Bullet (Smart Strike) after he was five-lengths second to him in an extended 10-furlong maiden on Dundalk's Polytrack Apr. 22. He has since won a Naas maiden in battling fashion over this trip May 11, and is Pat Smullen's preference over Calumet Farm's once-raced impressive Killarney maiden scorer Foxtrot Charlie (English Channel). “They are two nice horses and it was difficult to decide between the two of them,” the jockey explained. “They both have to improve on what they've done so far. Foxtrot Charlie is more of an unknown quantity, whereas Flying Bullet has already had a couple of runs this year, which probably swayed me towards him. We'd be hoping for good runs from both of them.”