Gimcrack on O'Callaghan's agenda Trainer Michael O'Callaghan is targeting a tilt at York's Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack Stakes for exciting juvenile Rapid Applause. The two-year-old colt has run highly creditable races in defeat in the Railway Stakes and the Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh since making a winning racecourse debut at Cork in mid-April. O'Callaghan is confident there is further improvement in his star youngster and an appearance on the Knavesmire on August 23 appears likely. "Rapid Applause is in good form and he might go for the Gimcrack," said the Co Kildare handler. "The other option is the Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh, but I think a flat track like York would suit him well. "He's a big two-year-old who has improved with each run. He's the highest-rated horse I've had and I think he's the fourth or fifth highest-rated two-year-old in Ireland. "I was a restricted trainer for the last couple of years, just training horses I couldn't sell at the breeze-ups, so to have a horse like him in my first season with a full licence is great. "He's run well on every start so far and was probably a little but unlucky at the Curragh the last day, so we're looking forward to the rest of the year with him. "We'll leave him in the Gimcrack until the last couple of days, see what the opposition is like and then make a decision." O'Callaghan also had news of talented filly Queen Of Power, who has struggled to make an impact in better company since shedding her maiden tag at Gowran towards the end of April. The trainer said: "She has been unlucky this year. "She was in season when she ran and finished seventh in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and then bled when she ran in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot. "She's had a few little problems since then - she's thrown a splint and had one or two other small issues - but we'll get her right. "She's a filly who handles cut in the ground, so maybe she is telling me she doesn't want to run at the moment, with the ground being so fast. "There are plenty of options for her later in the year and the next plan is to try and get some black type with her. "We're not afraid to travel with her so we could take her to England or France for a Group race or even a Listed race."
