Year goes for Silver gold at Curragh

Michael Halford is looking forward to Defining Year having another crack at Sharestan in Sunday’s Coolmore Stud China Ire.Friendship Silver Stakes at the Curragh.

It was not much of a competition at the Kildare course in March, when John Oxx’s Sharestan ran away with the Irish Lincolnshire as Defining Year finished eighth, but Halford feels the step up to a mile and a quarter will be in his runner’s favour.

The Hawk Wing gelding was second in three Listed events last year but his rival has made good subsequent progress to run Famous Name close at Leopardstown and was not far behind Windsor Palace and St Nicholas Abbey in the Mooresbridge Stakes.