BACK TO COOLER CURRAGH WILL SUIT HOTAZHELL

French 2000 Guineas scratching looks to fire back up in home soil version on May 24

- Michael Lee

Contrary to what Hotazhell's name may suggest, his connections seem to prefer avoiding fast surfaces if they can help it.

At his last fighting win in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy (1,600m) at Doncaster on Oct 26, trainer Jessica Harrington even said there should be no reason he would not do well on a good to firm track, even if it was untested ground for the four-time winner by Too Darn Hot.

However, one hour before the running of the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (1,600m), or French 2000 Guineas, on May 11, Hotazhell was scratched because of the unsuitable ground.

It would seem the consensus was to still play it safe—live to fight another day by waiting for a bit of sting out of the ground.

The €285,000 (S$415,000) Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas (1,600m) on May 24 (10.40pm Singapore time) at his home track of The Curragh, where he won twice over going rated as good to firm in certain places and good to yielding in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes (1,600m), was the ideal fall-back option.

Regular partner Shane Foley was disappointed with the last-minute French withdrawal as everything had gone to the minute for that first-up run, but the Irish jockey has cooled his heels and is looking forward to Saturday.