Dunlop leaves options open

As expected, Ed Dunlop's stable star appeared in the list for the Turf and the Filly & Mare Turf when entries for the Lone Star showpiece were published yesterday.

Connections are keen to keep their options open until the middle of next week if necessary, but Dunlop is growing increasingly hopeful about Ouija Board's chances in whatever race she contests based on what Lord Derby's star filly has been showing at his Newmarket base in recent weeks.

"The one thing that has struck me about Ouija Board is that she has become much more mature as the season has gone on," said the trainer. "When she won at Epsom in June it took her a long time to get over the race, and although she also won the Irish Oaks she didn't travel well and again took some time to recover."

However, Dunlop said that Ouija Board has shrugged off the exertions of finishing third in the Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp extremely well.

He added: "She seems to have taken her trip to France better than all her other trips put together and, although this is still a very important few days for her, all the signs at the moment look encouraging."

Corals currently quote Ouija Board at 5-2 to beat her own sex in the $1million Filly & Mare race and an 11-4 chance to master the fast-improving Kitten's Joy and several other highclass colts in the $2m Turf.

Those odds are sure to be rejigged the moment a target is finalised, but Dunlop has nominated the Turf as first preference and hinted that a bid to give Europe a sixth consecutive success in that race is under serious consideration for several reasons.

"The Filly & Mare starts just before a bend and being drawn 14 there would clearly be a disadvantage, while the Turf starts on the stretch and seems likely to have a smaller field," he said.

"Based on what we have seen in Europe we shouldn't be running away from horses like Magistretti and Powerscourt in the Turf. Kitten's Joy could be a different matter, but the most important thing is to chew over all the options for what is a very exciting adventure."

Meanwhile, Frankie Dettori's disappointment at Godolphin being absent from the Breeders' Cup has been offset slightly by the news that he has been booked to ride Wilko for Jeremy Noseda in the Juvenile.

The tough chestnut was sired by the Breeders' Cup Classic winner Awesome Again which gives connections hope that he will handle racing on dirt, and was last seen finishing a slightly unlucky third in Ascot's Royal Lodge Stakes.

"He does his final piece of work on Saturday morning and having Frankie ride him suits me down to the ground," Noseda said.