Kingfisher goes on trial for Gold Cup Kingfisher could earn himself a shot at the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot with a prominent showing in Leopardstown's Seamus & Rosemary McGrath Memorial Saval Beg Stakes on Friday evening. Runner-up in last season's Irish Derby behind Australia, the Galileo colt spent the rest of his three-year-old career as a pacemaker for his esteemed stable companion, predictably finishing down the field in the Juddmonte International and the Irish Champion Stakes. He made a pleasing start to the new campaign when fourth behind Forgotten Rules in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan, and trainer Aidan O'Brien is keen to find out whether his charge is a realistic contender for the staying showpiece in Berkshire later this month. "He has progressed well. We're thinking of the Gold Cup and trying to get him to slow down and relax. We were very happy with his run in Navan," said O'Brien. "If he runs well (on Friday) he could go to the Gold Cup." Kingfisher is one 10 declared runners for the the Saval Beg, with Andrew Oliver's Panama Hat, Sabrina Harty's Kalann and Aklan from the stable of champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins among his rivals. Listed honours are also up for grabs in a fascinating King George V Cup at the Foxrock venue. O'Brien is double-handed, with the experienced Cradle Mountain joined by course-and-distance-winning stable companion Bondi Beach. The latter narrowly beat stablemate Bantry Bay on debut and the form stands up well with the runner-up having since gone one better at the Curragh. "He doesn't show a lot at home but is a different horse on the track. He loves to be held on to and I'd say we'll do that again with him," said O'Brien. Dermot Weld's hat-trick seeker Radanpour, the John Oxx-trained Fairyhouse scorer Blue Paraiba and David Wachman's Clonmel winner Wooden Heart all feature in the mile-and-a-half heat.
