CONNECTIONS of Famous Name, an absentee in last weekend's Boylesports Irish 2,000 Guineas because of the firm ground at the Curragh, will again be taking account of underfoot conditions in weighing up whether to unleash their Group 3 winner in Sunday's Prix du Jockey-Club.
Last successful when drawing right away inside the final furlong to slam Moiqen and Ballydoyle's subsequent dual winner Hebrideanby four lengths and a length and a quarter in the Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial in April, Famous Name's participation at Chantilly will depend on the ground, but connections would like to run.
"We've left him in the French race and we will see whatthe ground is like later in the week before a decision is made, most likely on Thursday," said trainer Dermot Weld on Tuesday.
The son of Dansili would be stepping up to 1m2 1/2f for the first time if he goes for the French Derby, in which his opponents are set to include 1,000 Guineas winner Natagora.
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, told At The Races: "There is rain at the moment there and it depends on how things go from now on, as it was just far too firm for him at the Curragh.
"I'm confident we made the right decision there. It was like a road that day and funnily enough the times were all slow - maybe the horses weren't letting themselves down on it.
"If we do get plenty of rain, then the intention would be to go, and the form from the Leopardstown Guineas Trial has been quite solid."
Some of the 27 horses left in will be balloted out unless the field reduces naturally to a maximum of 20 at the declaration stage on Friday.
That could mean the Aga Khan's Beret Rouge or Montmartre missing out on a place in the Classic. If, as a result, Christophe Soumillon becomes available, he could conceivably end up on Natagora, though all her trainer Pascal Bary would say was: "All is fine with the filly."
Natagora was, as expected, the only filly among the field after Tuesday's forfeit stage.
The Jockey-Club is one of the few European Classics to have eluded Aidan O'Brien, who has left both Achill Island and Sligo in the race.
Ibn Khaldun also stood his ground and Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said: "We will be making up our minds tomorrow night."
There has also been talk about the possibility of Godolphin supplementing Campanologist.
The other British horses left in the �857,100 Classic on Tuesday were the Paul Cole-trained Moynahan, and City Leader, who is under the care of Brian Meehan.
The going at Chantilly on Tuesday was 3.5, or soft, and the weather forecast is unstable until Saturday, but the sun could come out for the big meeting the following day
不過又會因場地作出决定..........
