When it comes to the G3 Ballysax S., the men in charge are the joint record-holders Jim Bolger and Aidan O'Brien with seven wins apiece and the latter has the numerical upper hand this time with three runners to Coolcullen's two. Intriguingly, Ryan Moore is on the least-exposed of the Ballydoyle trio Cook Islands (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) who reappears after his authoritative maiden win over a mile at Navan in October. Whether he is another Galileo (Ire), High Chaparral (Ire), Yeats (Ire) or Fame and Glory (GB) remains to be seen, but it has to be significant that he has taken jockey precedence over the G2 Beresford S. third and G3 Autumn S. runner-up Beacon Rock (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud fourth and 'TDN Rising Star' Idaho (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Bolger's strongest chance appears to rest with the unbeaten Moonlight Magic (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Godolphin's relative of Galileo (Ire) and Sea the Stars (Ire) et al has proven form at this track having won the nine-furlong Listed Eyrefield S. in October. “Moonlight Magic is very well. I know that he handles soft ground okay–I am a little apprehensive about heavy going, but hopefully he will get through it,” Bolger commented. “He is in very good form and hasn't put a foot wrong all spring.” Dermot Weld relies on His Highness The Aga Khan's Harzand (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who demands respect after spreadeagling some useful types when breaking his maiden by 16 lengths in similarly testing conditions over this trip at Cork Mar. 26.
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