Break set for soft ground test

Dermot Weld is keen to see how Big Break handles easier conditions in a fascinating renewal of the JRA Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

As a full-sister to brilliant stablemate Famous Name, who bids for his 20th stakes-race success on the same card, Big Break has plenty to live up to.

She has certainly made a good start to her juvenile year, having finished third on her debut at Galway before running out a really impressive winner over the Killavullan course and distance.

Big Break is already a best priced 25-1 for next year's 1000 Guineas as she tackles colts in this Group Three event.

"She is an interesting runner having won her maiden on fast ground," said Weld, who has saddled five previous winners of the race, including subsequent Irish Derby winner Grey Swallow in 2003.

"There were two track records broken on the day she won and how she'll handle this easier ground remains to be seen.

"It is a very good renewal of a race which has been a good pointer to next year's Classics down the years.

"I think Magician is a very smart colt. I'm lucky enough to have a good record in the race and I won it with Grey Swallow a few years ago.

"There is no equivalent fillies' race for Big Break to run in and I think she needs a bit more experience, so we'll let her take her chance."

Weld has also declared Thunder Mountain, but conditions may not be in his favour.

"He will probably run, but he is a horse who loves top of the ground, as he showed when winning his maiden at Galway quite well, he should be coming home well," said Weld.

The aforementioned Magician bolted up at the Curragh on his latest start for Aidan O'Brien.

Andrew Oliver is hoping for a big run from his filly Dubaya, who looked the part when making a winning debut at Navan earlier this month.

Oliver said: "We thought a bit of her before her debut, but she's not a filly we'd pushed a lot of buttons with.

"We thought she'd run green, which she did, but it was a pleasant surprise to see her shown a good turn of pace to win well.

"The ground was soft that day, so the ground in Leopardstown this weekend shouldn't be a problem for her.

"We hope if she steps up on that debut run, improves and learned a bit from it, she could run nicely on Saturday."

Coolibah won readily on her second start at Roscommon.

Her trainer, Charles O'Brien, said: "She won nicely last time and the ground doesn't seem to bother her, so I thought she was worth a shot at this level."