Sport : Horse Racing

Corner takes International step

26th June 2012, 03:05pm

Michael Halford: Trains Blue Corner

Michael Halford: Trains Blue Corner

Sheikh Mohammed's once-raced colt Blue Corner is set to step up straight from a maiden to Group Three company at the Curragh on Sunday.

A five-length winner of a 10-furlong maiden on his debut last month, the Teofilo colt has been supplemented for the Friarstown Stud International Stakes.

"We entered him this morning and the plan will be to run him," said trainer Michael Halford.

"We'll keep a close eye on the ground. We wouldn't it too testing, but he's in good form and I'm pleased and looking forward to running him.

"We just don't want the ground to deteriorate a whole lot.

"His first run was very encouraging and he seems to have gone forward since at home, so it will be interesting now to run him and see where we are.

"He's in very good form and I'm happy with him. He missed his engagement in the Nijinsky Stakes (at Leopardstown earlier this month) due to the ground, so this was the next option for him."

Halford trained Casamento to win the Group One Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in 2010 for Sheikh Mohammed and is delighted to have another promising colt for the same owner in his care.

"It's very exciting. He could be another very nice horse, you never know ," said the County Kildare handler.

Halford has another possible runner in the four-year-old Defining Year, who ran as recently as Friday when he finished third to Tannery in a Listed race at Limerick.

"He had a tough enough race the other day in Limerick so we'll play it by ear for the week and see how he is," said the trainer.

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