Gossamer out to redeem reputation Gossamer will face 14 rivals in the Entenmann`s Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh on Sunday when she will bid to erase the memory of a disappointing run at Newmarket earlier this month. Luca Cumani`s filly was sent off the 11-8 favourite for the Sagitta 1000 Guineas but she could manage only eighth place after being short of room and stumbling at a crucial stage. But that race was run on a fast surface and she showed her best form as a two-year-old when there was plenty of give in the ground, conditions similar to which she will experience in Ireland. Gossamer appears to have a favoured inside draw in stall 13 but Cumani said: 'It entirely depends on whether they come over to the stands` side or not _ a lot will depend on that but hopefully it will be not too big a problem.' Cumani hopes his charge will have better luck in running on Sunday. He said: 'The Newmarket race didn`t pan out for her and didn`t go according to plan. She was a bit too farback in a slowly-run race and it was a big ask for her and then she stumbled. Gossamer is a general 9-4 chance for the Irish Guineas. The going is currently described as soft on the round course, soft to heavy in the straight. Sir Michael Stoute`s 1000 Guineas third Alasha, the Eoghan O`Neill-trained Red Rioja and Zenda, winner of the French equivalent for Manton trainer John Gosden are the other British raiders. Aidan O`Brien saddles five runners _ Alstemeria, Kournakova, Maryinsky, 1000 Guineas fifth Quarter Moon and Starbourne. Stable jockey Michael Kinane has opted to ride Quarter Moon. Other interesting runners are Kevin Prendergast`s Wrong Key and the Andre Fabre-trained Heat Haze, fourth and fifth respectively behind Zenda at Longchamp. Nayef, winner of the Dubai Sheema Classic at Nad Al Sheba in March, returns to action in the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup later on the card. The Marcus Tregoning-trained four-year-old rounded off last season with a victory over Tobougg in the Dubai Champion Stakes. Godolphin`s Tobougg, who finished last in the Sheema Classic but reportedly lost a shoe that day, is out for revenge on Sunday. David Elsworth`s Indian Creek, third to Nayef and Tobougg at Newmarket, and soft-ground specialist Chancellor from the Barry Hills yard, are the other two British challengers. O`Brien`s Bach and the Prendergast-trained Rebelline, who inflicted the first defeat on Johannesburg, head the home team in the 161,000 euro contest, which is run over an extended 10 furlongs.
