Awtaad prepared for step up in class Awtaad puts his credentials for the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas on the line in the Power EBF Tetrarch Stakes at the Curragh on Monday. The promising son of Cape Cross holds several lofty entries, including the colts' classic back at the Curragh on May 21, but has yet to run outside of maiden and handicap company. Trainer Kevin Prendergast is hoping Awtaad proves up to his first serious step in class to Listed level following his five-length romp in a handicap over this course and distance six weeks ago. "He's in good form and we are hoping he can put up a good show and then run in the Guineas in three weeks' time," said Prendergast. "He has to come through the Curragh race well first - hopefully he will. "When he won there, I'm not so sure it was much of a race but he couldn't do any more than what he did. "It's a step up in class and we were hoping the ground wasn't going to change but we had an awful lot of rain on Saturday night. "However, we'll let him take his chance." His seven rivals include Michael O'Callaghan's Blue De Vega, who was withdrawn from the Qipco 2000 Guineas at the 48-hour final declaration stage. He has a 3lb penalty for winning the Group Three Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown in October. It will be interesting to see how Jim Bolger's Round Two performs in his first race since losing his unbeaten record in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last June. The eight are completed by Alphonsus (John Oxx), Collision Course (Andy Oliver), Embiran (Dermot Weld), Pacodali (Johnny Murtagh) and Roibeard (Ger Lyons).
