O`Brien out for Italian first Ballingarry will bid to give champion trainer Aidan O`Brien his first success in the Derby Italiano in Rome on Sunday. Kieren Fallon has been booked to ride the Ballydoyle colt in the £623,000 Group One contest. While O`Brien is still looking for his first Italian Derby, trainers Michael Jarvis and Paul Cole are seeking their third win in the race. Jarvis, who saddled Prorutori to score in 1989 and Morshdi last year, runs Victor Chandler Chester Vase third Kayseri this time with Philip Robinson on board. Zaizoom (1987) and Time Star (1994) landed the prestigious contest for Cole and his hopes on Sunday lie with Kevin Darley`s mount Spanish John and the Italian-owned Long Goodbye, who will be ridden by Ian Mongan. Spanish John, the Chester Vase fourth, boasts Italian Listed winning form as a juvenile. John Gosden`s unbeaten Proven (Jimmy Fortune) will also be out to make his mark along with Richard Hannon`s Allenby and Eoghan O`Neill`s Maranilla. Allenby, who will be coupled with Long Goodbye, will be ridden by Dane O`Neill. John Egan is required for the ride on the German Group Three winner Maranilla. Dermot Weld, successful with In A Tiff in 1992, fields Limerick winner Mr Andrea, the mount of Ted Durcan. Germany`s Irulan, an easy Listed winner in Cologne, and the useful French performer Thompson Rouge, add further international flavour to the race. The home team has been starved of success in their premier Classic since 1988. And their best prospects of halting the decline seem to lie with impressive Listed scorer Rakti, Fisich and Salselon. Meanwhile, Chris Wall`s Takamaka (Michael Planard) will be an outsider in the Group Three Premio Piero e Ugo Tudini on the same card. The six-furlong dash has attracted the best domestic sprinters headed by the much improved Oh Bej Oh Bej, last year`s winner Indian Mary and the French Group placed Slap Shot. Godolphin`s Narrative is likely favourite for the Group Two Premio Carlo d`Alessio over a mile and six furlongs. Snetterton and Fascino look the best of the home contenders in a weak contest.
