Champagne field taking shape

The Aidan O'Brien trained RIP VAN WINKLE (Galileo [Ire]) remains on target

and is one of 19 still engaged in Saturday's Champagne S. (Eng-G2) at Doncaster.

Successful in the July 24 Tyros S. (Ire-G3) at the Curragh, Rip van Winkle

currently enjoys a prominent role in ante-post betting lists for next year's Two

Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) and is joined on the entry list for the seven-furlong

heat by stablemates DRUMBEAT (Montjeu [Ire]) and WESTPHALIA (Danehill Dancer).

Likely opposition to the Ballydoyle team includes ZACINTO (Dansili [GB]),

from the Sir Michael Stoute yard, who was an impressive eight-length scorer at

Sandown July 4; and WAR NATIVE (Cape Cross [Ire]), who enhanced his reputation

with a neat score at Lingfield August 18, though soft ground might prevent his

participation.

"(Trainer) Jeremy (Noseda) is in Keeneland at the sales and the problem at

the moment is that the weather seems unsettled at Doncaster," stud owner Belinda

Strudwick told the Racing Post. "It is not that he won't go on soft

ground, but there is no point making him gallop through it at this stage. If the

ground is okay I think it is likely he will run on Thursday (in a conditions

race) as Jeremy would prefer he got some more experience before going for a

group race. If it is soft, but looks like it might dry for Saturday, then he

could still run in the Champagne."