Mendelssohn pictured on his way to victory at Del Mar last year© Photo Healy Racing
Mendelssohn warms up for a potential Kentucky Derby bid in the 32Red Patton Stakes at Dundalk on Friday evening.
The Listed contest is the penultimate leg of the 'European Road to the Kentucky Derby' points-based initiative that covers selected races in Ireland, Britain and France and will lead to the horse accumulating most points gaining entry to the 'Run for the Roses'.
Mendelssohn has previous Stateside experience after landing the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar last November and he could earn himself a place in the big race on the first Saturday in May with a comeback victory in this Listed contest under Ryan Moore.
The Scat Daddy colt faces seven rivals in this €75,000 contest, with his trainer Aidan O'Brien also fielding Seahenge (Donnacha O'Brien) and Threeandfourpence (Seamie Heffernan).
Joseph O'Brien 's Ship Of Dreams Fozzy Stack's Zihba, the Mick Halford-trained Blackgold Fairy and Princess Yaiza from Gavin Cromwell's yard all bring winning course form to the table.
Elsewhere on the card, eight-times Dundalk scorer Togoville bids to regain the winning thread in the opening 32Red Casino Handicap.
Anthony McCann's has filled the runner-up spot on his last two starts and must have strong claims in the hands of Pat Smullen.
Smullen also has a good ride in the €25,000 32Red Fillies Race in the Tracey Collins-trained Nivvo
The daughter of Dylan Thomas was not winning out of turn when justifying odds-on favouritism here a month ago and has every chance of following up.
Barry O'Neill, Lisa O'Neill, Richie Deegan and Katie Walsh, who could all be in action in the amateur events at next week's Cheltenham Festival, are among the riders taking part in the concluding 32Red.com (Q.R.) Handicap.
