Halford hoping to land elusive Classic with Athasi winner Rehana

Michael Halford has enjoyed many significant victories in his training career, including a Group 1 Racing Post Trophy in 2010 with Casamento, but this season he has his sights set on landing a first Classic success with Rehana, who is on course for the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh on May 28.

Rehana was beaten only a length on her reappearance run in a 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown last month but notched an impressive victory in the Group 3 Athasi Stakes at Naas on Sunday, a victory Halford believes will give his filly plenty of confidence.

“She has come out of Naas really well and we're delighted with her,” Halford said. “The Guineas is the plan with her. You would like to think that at this time of year the fillies will be coming forward.

“I think she'll progress again from Naas and that victory should give her plenty of confidence. She's a lovely moving filly and she likes good ground. We're very happy with her and would look forward to running her in the Guineas as long as she got her favoured ground.”

Ambassadorial: has an entry in the Irish 2,000 GuineasCredit: Patrick McCann

Ambassadorial, an Elusive Quality colt who was beaten on his seasonal debut at Dundalk, a track he had tasted success at twice on his only other starts as a juvenile, has an entry in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and Halford is pleased with his progress.

He said: “Ambassadorial has come out of Dundalk well. We have no firm plans with him for the moment but obviously we would like to get him on turf soon to see how he handles it. He's in good form and we're very pleased with his work since Dundalk.”

Irishcorrespondent is another colt who looks potentially smart for Halford. The son of Teofilo landed a Leopardstown maiden in impressive fashion last month and holds entries in the Irish 2,000 Guineas as well as the Derby.

Halford said: "There's a winners’ race at the Curragh on May 14 over a mile and we might look at that for him. We'll learn more the next day with him.

“The way he hit the line at Leopardstown, and how he carries on at home, you'd be thinking he would want to go up in trip rather than down although there's lots of pace in his pedigree.”