Mabs Cross team looking to cash in on absence of Battaash in Flying Five Stakes

The absence of Battaash from the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes on Sunday week has prompted Michael Dods to target stable star Mabs Cross at the Curragh on Irish Champions Weekend.

Dods described Battaash as unbeatable on his day after Mabs Cross was one of those left in the dust when the brilliant sprinter lowered Dayjur's 29-year-old track record in last month's Coolmore Nunthorpe at York.

Mabs Cross and Battaash, the last two winners of the Longines-backed Prix de l'Abbaye, are on course to meet again at Longchamp on October 6, but Dods is keen to steer clear of the Charlie Hills-trained superstar where possible.

"We're planning on going for the Flying Five in Ireland and then we'll see about going for the Abbaye again," said Dods.

"I was quite pleased to see that Battaash is not going over to Ireland and goes straight to France. At least we're missing him, anyway, as on his day he's some horse and I haven't seen a sprinter that can beat him at the moment."

Mabs Cross, who is also entered in the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes, will be retired at the end of the season and the Group 1 Flying Five could represent her best chance of signing off in style.

"She's in good form and it will be a hot race but I'm sure she'll run a big race if it's nice ground," said Dods. "The ground was very lively at York and she was feeling it. I'm not saying she wants soft ground but I don't think she wants it quite as lively as that."

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