Naas

by Tom Frary Sunday's card at Naas sees some of the leading Irish sprinters build towards next month's Royal meeting, with the six-furlong G3 Goffs Lacken S. the feature. There was no mistaking the authority of the filly Ocean Quest (Ire) (Sioux Nation) in Navan's Listed Committed S. last month and although that was on heavy ground, she hails from the Jessie Harrington stable carrying all before it at the moment. Saturday's Listed Carnarvon S. placegetter Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never) and the re-opposing The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel...

Entries are now open for the Irish EBF Barrier Trials at Naas Racecourse scheduled for Monday, May 29. The trials, restricted to unraced juveniles and 3-year-olds, are operated by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM) and backed by the Irish European Breeders' Fund (IEBF) and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB). The 2023 edition will be back on turf for the first time since 2019, and all the trials will be conducted over six and seven furlongs. Notable graduates of the trials include Group 1 winner A Case Of You (Ire) (Hot...

There was a strong vibe about Ballydoyle's Johannes Brahms (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}--Illaunmore, by Shamardal) ahead of Saturday's six-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race at Naas and he did not disappoint to show distinct promise and earn TDN Rising Star status. Jumping smartly under Seamie Heffernan to race on the front end, the 5-6 favourite was kept company by the Ger Lyons-trained fellow newcomer Tourist (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) and was briefly headed inside the two. Battling against the rail, the 200,000gns Book 1 purchase who races for Coolmore, Westerberg and Brant...

Naas produced a pair of TDN Rising Stars on Saturday, with the first being Atlantic Thoroughbreds' Devious (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}--Federation {GB}, by Motivator {GB}) in the five-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. Backed into 11-5 favouritism, the Donnacha O'Brien-trained 140,000gns Book 1 graduate was reserved in mid-division early by Gavin Ryan before being allowed to cruise to the front 1 1//2 furlongs down. Soon clear, the powerful chestnut who hails from the family of Attraction (GB) (Efisio {GB}) may have been idling late as Mr Saturday (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire})...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Monday's insights feature the reappearance of 'TDN Rising Star' Tenebrism. 18.40 Naas, Listed, €40,000, 3yo/up, 5fT Coolmore and Westerberg's TENEBRISM (Caravaggio) makes a swift reappearance after annexing Cork's six-furlong Listed Cork S. on seasonal debut earlier in the month and takes in this Listed Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Woodlands...

The popular Irish EBF Barrier Trials initiative will return from May, with dates at three different racecourses having been approved by Horse Racing Ireland. The first trials will be held at Naas on Monday, May 29, using the inside course over six and seven furlongs. On Monday, July 3, the action will switch to Limerick, which will stage trials over six-and-a-half and seven-and-a-half furlongs. Dundalk hosts the final session on the all-weather on Tuesday, September 5, with trials set to be run over five, six and seven furlongs. The trials...

GAIN The Advantage Series will continue to be supported by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and GAIN Equine Nutrition for the third consecutive year. Last year's series was won jointly by trainers Pat Martin and Kevin Coleman, who shared an overall league prize of €5,000 worth of GAIN equine products. After two successful years, this year there will be an added race at Tramore Racecourse. The race will be restricted to horses owned by a syndicate or racing club to support and encourage the growth in this area, and like the...

Irish equine science company Plusvital will continue their sponsorship of the Listed Plusvital Devoy S. on the opening weekend of the Irish Flat racing season at Naas Mar. 26. In addition to the €500 breeder prize they provided last season, Plusvital will also provide a new additional prize for the trainer of the winning horse, who will be awarded €500 worth of Plusvital products. Additionally, to acknowledge their contribution to the industry, all the winning 'Best Turned Out' grooms of each of the races on the day will be recognised...

Sean Doyle pulls Monbeg Park (Ire) (Walk In The Park {Ire}) out of his stable and says proudly, "That's the type of horse the likes of Willie Mullins and Eddie O'Leary want to buy."  It begs the question, why is Monbeg Park lining out for Doyle and not any of the powerhouse stables in Sunday's G1 Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle? After all, Doyle has earned a reputation for selling future stars rather than racing them and can count a Cheltenham Festival-winning graduate to his roll of honour almost every...

Following the cancellation of Navan on Sunday, Dec. 18, due to frost, this meeting will not be rescheduled. The G2 Tote Navan Novice Hurdle will now be held at Naas next Tuesday, Dec. 20 as an eighth race with original declarations to stand. The NavanRacecourse.ie Rated Novice Steeplechase will now be held at Fairyhouse next Wednesday, Dec. 21 as an eighth race. It will revert back to entries at weights stage and will close for fresh declarations along with the rest of the Fairyhouse Meeting by 10am on Monday, Dec....

7th-Naas, €16,000, Mdn, 9-15, 2yo, 7fT, 1:31.33, g/y. BOLD DISCOVERY (c, 2, Bolt d'Oro--Caribbean Babe, by Arch), sent off at 15-2, quickly established a clear advantage. Maintaining the gallop in game fashion in the straight, the bay hit the line strong with 2 1/2 lengths to spare over Peking Opera (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). "That was very impressive and he's a gorgeous horse," Kate Harrington said. "He only came to us in June and has always done everything so easy. Obviously his sire is a sensation in America on the dirt...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features the second foal out of Classic heroine Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 2.00 Naas, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, f, 5f 205yT BEGINNINGS (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) is the second foal out of the 1000 Guineas, Irish 1000 Guineas, G1 Coronation S. and G1 Nassau S. heroine Winter (Ire) (Galileo...