Weld´s Arrow On Target For Stan James 2000 Guineas

Curragh handler Dermot Weld today revealed that his Stan James 2000 Guineas candidate Golden Arrow is in great form and on course for a crack at the colts´ Classic on Newmarket´s NatWest Rowley Mile on Saturday, May 6.

The son of Danehill scored on his debut in a six-furlong Listed event at Cork in June last year, comfortably beating five opponents who were all previous winners.

He went on to run three more times in 2005, finishing fourth and third in Group Two and Group Three company at the Curragh over six furlongs.

Golden Arrow improved when stepped up to seven furlongs in the Group One National Stakes at the Curragh in September, staying on well to be the two-length second to George Washington

Dermot Weld said this morning: 'At the moment the plan is to run at Newmarket, although we´ll make up our minds in the middle of this month. He wintered very well, is progressing nicely, and I´m delighted with his form.'

Having landed the Stan James 2000 Guineas with Refuse To Bend in 2003, Weld knows what it takes to capture the Classic

The trainer is considering following the same path taken with that horse´s preparation for Golden Arrow, currently a 50/1 chance with Stan James for the contest.

Weld continued: 'I haven´t decided on whether to give him a run first - that will be decided early next week - but if he does it will probably be in the race I have used successfully in the past at Leopardstown [the Group Three Leopardstown 2000 Guineas Trial, over a mile, on Saturday, April 15].

'I used it to prepare Refuse To Bend for Newmarket, and it´s the logical route for Golden Arrow to take.'

The Stan James Guineas Festival takes place on the NatWest Rowley Mile course at Newmarket on Saturday, May 6, and Sunday, May 7. Both the Stan James 1000 Guineas and the Stan James 2000 Guineas are worth a record #330,000 in 2006.

Stan James latest prices: 9/4 George Washington, 7/1 Sir Percy, 8/1 Amadeus Wolf, 10/1 Horatio Nelson, 11/1 Nakheel, 14/1 Art Museum, 25/1 City Of Troy, Opera Cape, Asset; 33/1 Pescatorio, With Interest; 40/1 To Sender, El Fuego 50/1 Ivan Denisovich, Aussie Rules, Dylan Thomas, Sir Xaar, Araafa, Extreme Measures, Jeu De Mot, Palace Episode, Atlantic Waves, Arminius, Book Of Music, Winged Cupid, Golden Arrow, Narvik, Killybegs, Close To You, Blue Mirage, Hurricane Cat, Final Verse, Frost Giant, Achill Bay, Amadeus Mozart, Benjamin Franklin, Caribbean, Heliostatic, James Joyce, Major Commitment, Priors Hill, Yasoodd; 66/1 Bar