Two overshadow Irish Champion

Galileo and Fantastic Light appear to have frightened off the competition as they prepare for a rematch of their King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes battle in Saturday's Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. Only eight others were left in the 1 1/4-mile contest at Tuesday's entry stage, and two of those, Ice Dancer and Give the Slip, will run as pacesetters for Galileo and Fantastic Light, respectively.

Sakhee, Godolphin's seven-length winner of the Juddmonte International Stakes, was also left in, but he would run only as Fantastic Light's replacement in the unlikely prospect of the ground turning soft.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Galileo is not necessarily certain to run in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Co-owner Michael Tabor was quoted Tuesday on The Sporting Life Web site as saying that Galileo "could miss the Breeders' Cup Classic," and instead be put away for the winter to prepare for a 4-year-old campaign.