As previously warned, Aidan O'Brien has not kept his unbeaten G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. winner Caravaggio among the entries for Saturday's Juddmonte Middle Park S. at Newmarket after the son of Scat Daddy suffered a minor training setback.
In his absence, O'Brien, who is bidding for a record fifth victory in the six-furlong contest could be represented by a quartet of War Front colts in Intelligence Cross, Leo Minor, Sportsmanship and Courage Under Fire, as well as Peace Envoy (Fr) (Power {GB}).
Along with the Ballydoyle quintet, another two potential raiders from Ireland remain at the five-day confirmation stage, Medicine Jack (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) and Psychedelic Funk (GB) (Choisir {Aus}), both of whom are trained by Ger Lyons.
Mehmas (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who is set to retire to Tally-Ho Stud for the 2017 breeding season, could well make his final racecourse appearance for Al Shaqab Racing on Saturday and may be reacquainted with Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal), whom he beat in the G2 Qatar Richmond S. and has subsequently won the G2 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack S.
Blue Point's trainer Charlie Appleby said, “Everything has gone well to date and we are on target for the Middle Park. He is fit and well and is a very exciting horse.
“I'm sure Aidan will bring something over that is progressive, but he has already beaten half the field and if he turns up in the same condition as he did at York, he is the horse they have got to beat.”
The remainder of the 16 confirmations are Mubtasim (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}), The Last Lion (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}), Yalta (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), Sutter County (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Mokarris (More Than Ready), Koropick (Ire) (Kodiac {Ire}) and Silver Line (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).
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