The participation of White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) in Saturday's Coral-Eclipse at Sandown hinges on how the Group 1 scorer comes through a crucial gallop on Wednesday, according to George Murphy, assistant trainer to his father John.
White Birch got the better of Aidan O'Brien's Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on his most recent start but missed the rematch in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He will face another Ballydoyle big gun in this year's Derby winner City Of Troy (Justify) if declared for Saturday, but Murphy explained that there are some hoops to jump through at home first.
Murphy said, “The plan is to go to Sandown and he will have a breeze tomorrow [Wednesday] and he will have his blood done in the morning again, with a decision made after midday. Hopefully we will be able to go and we're really looking forward to it.”
White Birch will have to concede 10lb to City Of Troy as well as the other three-year-olds in the mix, which include Clive Cox's Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Brian Meehan's Royal Ascot scorer Jayarebe (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Roger Teal's Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up Dancing Gemini (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).
The latter is set to be partnered by Kieran Shoemark for the first time at Sandown, with Dylan Browne McMonagle–who has been in the saddle for Dancing Gemini's two previous starts this season–likely to be claimed by Joseph O'Brien for the ride on Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).
“Al Riffa is committed for Joseph and we knew he had an entry, so we've basically worked around the idea that we won't be getting Dylan,” Teal explained. “We set out to use a jockey familiar with our tracks, which will help us, though Dylan's a very good jockey and I'm sure he's going to be champion in Ireland.
“It will help to have someone who is streetwise and has a bit of knowledge of the track, so that decision was made. Oisin Murphy was due to take the ride, but Mr Gosden has made an entry up in the Lancashire Oaks and Oisin is under contract to go out there.
“We've taken the chance on Kieran and we think he ticks a lot of the boxes.”
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