RIGHT KEY COULD WIN E. P TAYLOR STAKES IN CANADA

When FOREIGN AFFAIRS (38) contested the Ballycullen Stakes at Fairyhouse last Sunday he was bidding to take trainer Sir Mark Prescott's record up to 16 wins from 32 runs with his Irish raiders over the last dozen years.

My read of Foreign Affairs is that he's best in a small field on fast ground, so he was almost certainly racing in his ideal circumstances at Fairyhouse. Nonetheless he just got caught by the highly progressive three year old filly RIGHT KEY (38).

Right Key needs fast ground according to trainer Kevin Prendergast. Chuck out the Yorkshire Oaks where she refused to start and her record now shows three wins from four tries on fast ground at ten furlongs or more. Her sole loss going long on fast ground was when fourth in a freakishly fast renewal of the Irish Oaks.

According to my speed ratings Right Key has a major chance of taking the E. P. Taylor Stakes. The Canadian race, though worth a lot of money, generally only attracts Group 3 class competition. It would involve a half mile cut back in trip for Right Key. But she's already won a good Group 3 at the trip. More importantly she's shown that she possesses the turn of foot that tends to win North American Turf races.

I say watch out for Right Key in Canada, and make a note of Foreign Affairs. The old boy isn't done with yet.

HORATIO NELSON THE TOP TWO YEAR OLD

My speed ratings say that HORATIO NELSON (40) ran faster than any two year old has so far this season when taking the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh. In fact I had him running as fast as what I rated last year's top two year old Footstepsinthesand.

I don't understand all the hype behind George Washington. He's never run that fast. Horatio Nelson is now unbeaten in three starts and looks a far better prospect to me.

I don't see anything troubling Horatio Nelson if he runs in next month's National Stakes which now seems more likely than not. My advice is to take the fancy prices for the 2000 Guineas now. He'll be a whole lot shorter if he does what I expect him to next time.

CARADAK JUST KEEPS ON WINNING

Experience has taught me to be wary of opposing horses that keep on winning in decent but not brilliant time. You only ever discover how fast such horses are when they're taken on by a rival that's good enough to press them. In this regard I have to mention CARADAK (38) who banged out yet another decent speed rating to take the Desmond Stakes.

Caradak has run below form on both his seasonal debuts. Otherwise he's won all five times he's raced on ground officially firmer than good. John Oxx seems to feel he's better at seven furlongs than a mile. This being so, if he gets his ground in the Prix Foret (invariably a very soft Group 1) I can see him winning again.