Michigan on Kentucky trial at Chelmsford Aidan O’Brien’s pair of U S S Michigan and Antilles feature in a final field of nine runners for the Woodford Reserve Cardinal Conditions Stakes at Chelmsford on Thursday. A total prize fund of £60,000 is up for grabs in the one-mile contest, which forms part of the European Road to the Kentucky Derby. Antilles looks to have his work cut out — despite having opened his account in a Naas nursery on his final appearance of last season — but his Ryan Moore-ridden stablemate U S S Michigan is of significant interest. After being narrowly beaten on his only two-year-old start at the Curragh last June, the War Front colt made an impressive return to action at Dundalk last month and O’Brien has already confirmed a trip to Churchill Downs is under consideration. U S S Michigan is unlikely to have things all his own away, however, with a clutch high-class colts taking him on. The standard is set by the Mark Johnston-trained Dark Vision, who looked every a smart prospect when winning the Vintage Stakes last August, but returns with something to prove after disappointing in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster behind Too Darn Hot. Andrew Balding’s Bye Bye Hong Kong has also shown up well at Group-race level, as has Certain Lad from Mick Channon’s yard. The field is completed by Spring Cup winner Fanaar (William Haagas), Barys (Archie Watson), course scorer Battle Of Waterloo (John Ryan) and Shir Khan (Paul Cole).
