All the talk about tomorrow's Coral-Eclipse has justifiably centred around the clash between So You Think and Workforce, but, while the race comes as an afterthought for our own dual Oaks winner SNOW FAIRY, Ed confessed that he would love nothing better than to prove the "party-pooper" at Sandown.
Ed said:"There has been much speculation as to which of the colts will come out on top, but Snow Fairy had a blow-out on Thursday morning and, having scoped well afterwards, we saw no reason why we should not take them on."
"Obviously, Snow Fairy has not had an ideal preparation. Having suffered that minor bone damage to one of her knees in Dubai in March, it was always the intention to start her off instead in the Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland, but two inches of rain at The Curragh last Saturday scuppered that idea, so we have had to think again."
"Sandown was always the preferred option over Haydock (Lancashire Oaks), but we were waiting on the ground. However, it looks as if we will have no excuses on that score with a dry forecast and temperatures of 22 degrees predicted."
"Furthermore, while Snow Fairy stays a mile and a half, 10 furlongs is probably her optimum distance, but the two negatives would be a) this is her first race since Hong Kong in December and b) she had to endure a 24-hour round-trip to Ireland last week which inevitably took a bit out of her."
"Ideally, we could have done with another week, but if we are going to go for the King George or the Nassau it would be good to head there with a run under our belt, so, though there are a few ifs and buts, this looks the next best place to start back after Ireland."