Vancouver Set For Irish Debut

Australian colt Vancouver could make his northern hemisphere debut in a Group Two race at the Curragh ahead of a tilt at the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien said the Greenlands Stakes (1200m) on Saturday week was among the options for last year's Golden Slipper winner before next month's Group One sprint at Royal Ascot.

"We are very excited about him, but we've not got a lot of time as we know he is going back to Australia after the July Cup," O'Brien said.

Jockey Tommy Barry riding VancouverJockey Tommy Barry riding Vancouver

"What we have pencilled in with him is the Greenlands. We are probably going to go there on a fact-finding mission, but he is very exciting at home.

"He is only going to be ready for a racecourse gallop, but he has got to have a race if he is going to be ready for Royal Ascot, where he will probably go for the Golden (Diamond) Jubilee."

Formerly trained by Gai Waterhouse, Vancouver was sent to Ireland for a northern hemisphere campaign before he begins stud duties at Coolmore Australia in the spring.

O'Brien also said Bondi Beach could miss Friday's Yorkshire Cup and instead run at Navan on Sunday with his long-term target the Melbourne Cup.

Part-owned by Australian businessman Lloyd Williams, Bondi Beach made a winning return in a Listed race at Limerick on April 23 at his first start since he was unplaced in last year's Melbourne Cup.