Attraction goes for double

Attraction will bid to make history on Sunday at The Curragh, attempting to add an Irish 1000 Guineas victory to her conquest of the English equivalent, something that has never been done before.

Trained by Mark Johnston, Attraction won the English 1000 Guineas at Newmarket from on the lead, and will likely reprise those tactics Sunday. The main threat to her would appear to be spoilers taking her on up front.

No doubt this is the reason trainer Aidan O'Brien employs his familiar scattershot approach to classic races. In the one-mile Irish 1000 Guineas, he will send out a third of the 15-runner field. Last Love, a maiden winner at Leopardstown last time out, appears to be the pick of his quintet. She is preferred by jockey Jamie Spencer to Necklace, who finished 12th behind Attraction in the English 1000 Guineas.

Everything looks to be in Attraction's favor, though. The best alternative looks to be another English raider, Secret Charm, a creditable fifth in the English 1000. Although there is no obvious reason why she should reverse the form, she looks sure to get a piece of the purse. Alexander Goldrun also merits consideration, having won the Group 3 1000 Guineas trial two weeks ago.

The Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup shares top billing on The Curragh card, and the 1 1/4-mile event for older horse will see the reappearance of Sulamani.

Sulamani, who was placed first in last year's Arlington Million, will be assisted by his Godolphin stablemate Naheef as pacemaker. Reported by trainer Saeed bin Suroor to be working well and thriving physically, Sulamani could start a fruitful 5-year-old campaign Sunday.

Australian Kerrin McEvoy will be in the saddle on Sulamani. Goldolphin's second rider this season, he will have first call for a couple of weeks, after Godolphin's top rider, Frankie Dettori, broke a finger on Tuesday at Goodwood.