Beauty Contest to thrill punters
The daughter of Singspiel made a less than auspicious debut when tenth of 15 behind stable companion, Cruzspiel, at Leopardstown in the middle of April.
A couple of weeks later, however, she was seen in a more favourable light when performing with real promise in the contest won by the ultra-smart Handel, back at Leopardstown. On this occasion, she finished fifth, beaten a little over seven lengths. The form has already started to work out, with third placed Swiss Role scoring impressively at Fairyhouse last week. It is also encouraging that this will be the first time she will be partnered by Johnny Murtagh.
Oxx and Murtagh have to be fancied to complete a double with the classy Hanabad in the seven furlongs Ladies Fashion Competition Race. The selection ran poorly, he went off at 1-2, on his final outing as a juvenile, when finishing in mid-field behind Vettriano at the Curragh in October. That was too bad to be true and he is far better judged on a fine display previously in the Group One Grand Criterium at Longchamp on Arc day. He took fourth spot, beaten a little over a length, behind Hold That Tiger, Le Vie Dei Colori and subsequent English 1000 Guineas third, Intercontinental.
If Danaskaya has trained on, and puts her best foot forward, then she should prove hard to beat in the Naas Sprint Stakes. She ended her two-year-old careeer with a cracking effort in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket in October, finishing third to Airwave and Russian Rhythm.
That was a serious performance. Airwave won in a canter on her reappearance at Sandown and Russian Rhythm landed the English 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.
At Tralee today Wouldn’t You Agree can make a winning start over fences in the Joesph J Grace Memorial Beginners Chase.
He’s already been successful in a bumper and three hurdles races but trainer, Christy Roche, has always believed jumping fences to be his true vocation!
