Minnie Hauk aiming to take centre stage in Tattersalls Gold Cup

Aidan O’Brien expects his star filly Minnie Hauk to take a good step forward from her winning seasonal return when she runs in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on Sunday.

The best of her generation over a mile and a half last season, winning three Group Ones, she was only narrowly denied in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe by the brilliant Daryz.

Possibly over the top when a beaten favourite in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, she showed she retains all her old enthusiasm when winning the Mooresbridge Stakes, her first ever run over 10 furlongs.

She faces a mile and a quarter at the Curragh again, and is strongly fancied to add to her Group One tally.

“Minnie Hauk is in very good form, we’ve been very happy with her since her first run,” said O’Brien.

“That was a nice run, she won over 10 furlongs and that is the same trip that she’s over again on Sunday so we know she’s fine at it.

“Hopefully everything goes well.”

George Scott is thrilled with the progression of Bay City Roller as the Huxley Stakes runner-up looks to build on his impressive seasonal debut on the Roodee.

The four-year-old New Bay colt pushed Lambourn all the way at Chester, coming a neck short in the Group Two despite giving 5lb to O’Brien’s dual Derby winner.

“I’m delighted with the horse, I think he’s come forward since Chester, but he will need to because it is a stronger race in depth and I do think the track will suit him better,” trainer Scott said.

“What is really exciting about him is he looked like he picked up from where he left off last year, whereas at Sandown at the start of last year he was very rusty from two to three whereas this year he has maintained his level of form, if not taken it to a new level.

“We’ve seen him come forward since then and the Tattersalls Gold Cup has really been a plan for a long, long time, so it’s nice when you are able to be in the race that you’ve been planning to get in to.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing him on that track. It’s a tough, stiff track, and he’s a tough horse.

“He’s a robust horse, he loves racing. He’s tough and he turns up every time. I think we are going to ride him more positively this year, Oisin (Murphy) kind of put a flag in the ground of how he wants to ride him and I think you are going to see him more in that position and I think that suits him because he can attack the race.

“I think everything is set fair for him to run his best race and where that leaves him against this lot, I don’t know, but we will see on Sunday.”

Ed Walker is confident Almaqam, who makes his reappearance in County Kildare, will have his moment in the Group One limelight sooner rather than later.

“He’s been training great. He unfortunately missed his prep race with a dirty scope earlier in the year, so he’s the only runner in the field yet to have a start this season,” Walker told Tattersalls.

“But he’s done plenty of work and we think he’s fitter than when he started off last year. His weight is good, he looks really well, and we’re confident he’ll run a big race.

“Minnie Hauk is obviously a formidable opponent and Almaqam’s little brother (Saddadd) is progressing very well, so it’s going to be a very tough race. But he’s in great form and we’re looking forward to it.”

Roger Varian’s Gordon Richards Stakes winner Saddadd is another British raider alongside the Karl Burke-trained six-year-old Royal Rhyme.

For the home team, O’Brien is double-handed with Edward Hamilton, Jessica Harrington has Green Impact and Robson De Aguiar’s Tiberius Thunder completes the eight-runner field.