By Daithi Harvey
The prospect of Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) taking on stablemate Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) remained a possibility when both Ballydoyle stars appeared among 14 possible runners for Saturday's G1 QIPCO Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown. O'Brien has also left Winter in the G1 Coolmore Stud Fastnet Rock Matron S. the same day, so he also has that option for the four-time Group 1 winner. Other potential Ballydoyle representatives in the Irish Champion S. are Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Lancaster Bomber (War Front), Cliffs Of Moher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Taj Mahal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
A strong British challenge is headed by Eminent (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) who looked a future Group 1 winner for Martyn Meade when landing the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville last month.
“The plan is to run and Frankie Dettori rides,” Meade said on Tuesday, which would mean Eminent will be having his fourth different jockey in as many runs. That fact doesn't worry Frankie Dettori who told Racing Post, “I'm delighted to be riding Eminent as he is a very exciting colt and looks as if he'll enjoy going around Leopardstown. It's a race in which I've done well previously and hopefully can do so again.”
Joining Eminent from England could be Roger Charlton's Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), already a Group 1 winner in Ireland this year when successful in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh in May, Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) from the Saeed Bin Suroor stable and Sir Michael Stoute's Poet's Word (Ire) (Poet's Voice {GB}). Dermot Weld could be doubly represented by a previous winner of the race in The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who claimed the scalp of Australia (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2014 and GI Man O'War S. winner Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). The Jim Bolger trained Moonlight Magic (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) could be a second Godolphin runner while heavy rain on Monday night will surely encourage trainer Ken Condon to let his good money spinner Success Days (Ire) (Jeremy) take his chance in the €1.25m contest.
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