Joseph O'Brien to be doubly represented in the Ballysax The P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes often proves a significant early Derby trial and this year’s renewal should again be informative at Leopardstown on Sunday afternoon. Aidan O’Brien can choose from a wealth of talent with the likes of Benvenuto Cellini, Constitution River, Hawk Mountain, Action and current Derby ante-post favourite Pierre Bonnard all among the entries for the Group 3 event. His son Joseph intends running two in the 1m2f test in the shape of impressive maiden winners James J Braddock and Shosholoza. The Carriganog trainer is under no illusion about the task facing his two intended runners saying: “I’ll have two in the Ballysax, Shosholoza and James J Braddock, who will be getting on better ground. “They are two nice horses, I think. It looked like a stacked entry. We’ll see what turns up but it’s going to be harder to win than a Derby!” Donnacha O’Brien also has two entries with A Boy Named Susie and South Island while Victory Tip, who won a Curragh maiden for Henry de Bromhead on the opening day of the new turf season at the Curragh, is the only one of the 14 entries not trained by the O’Brien family. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
