Meanwhile, Dalakhani was confirmed to run Wednesday by trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre. "All is well with the colt and he will be declared on Friday with Christophe Soumillon in the saddle," Royer-Dupre said. "Dalakhani will be a little heavier on this occasion and that's a good thing."The full brother to 1999 Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I) winner Daylami has not previously raced outside France. A total of 11 horses remain eligible for the Irish Derby going into Friday's final declaration stage.
The Aga Khan's French Derby (Fr-I) winner Dalakhani, who is undefeated in six career starts, is expected to face up to six runners from trainer Aidan O'Brien's powerful Ballydoyle Stable in Sunday's Budweiser Irish Derby (Ire-I) at the Curragh.O'Brien, who is seeking to become the first trainer in history to win the Irish Derby three consecutive years, told Racing Post all six 3-year-olds he still has eligible for the 1 1/2-mile Irish classic could answer the call to the post. Last year, O'Brien ran four in the Irish Derby and swept the top three spots with High Chaparral, Sholokhov, and Ballingarry.Still eligible this year for O'Brien are Brian Boru, Handel, Powerscourt, Roosevelt, High Country, and The Great Gatsby, who finished second to Kris Kin in the Vodafone Epsom Derby (Eng-I).
