Sahara Desert to lead the way
Officially this will be a belated first run of the campaign, but he did enjoy a spin in a Charity Sweepstake at the Listowel Festival.
Aidan O’Brien’s charge was in a different league to the opposition in that event and, despite two miles being way further than he wanted to travel, the selection duly outclassed his rivals.
Sahara Desert spent most of his three-year-old campaign making the running for Rock Of Gibraltar and other high class stable companions.
His best performance came in the Group One Prix du Moulin at Longchamp in September. The son of Green Desert set a cracking gallop, before inevitably fading in the closing stages.
He eventually finished fifth of the seven runners, but it is interesting to note was just three lengths adrift of the brilliant Rock Of Gibraltar at the end.
Another Ballydoyle lead horse, Shangri La, is well considering in the Navan Driving Range Maiden.
The daughter of Sadler’s Wells hasn’t been seen on a racecourse since finishing a head and three lengths third behind Dimitrova and L’ancresse at Leopardstown back in April.
We now know that is particularly smart form and how Shangri La travels in the market will be all important.
Preference, however, is for more recent form in the shape of Grand Quest.
The Grand Lodge filly can only improve for her first outing, half a length second to Trusted Instinct at Fairyhouse last month.
Jim Bolger’s dropped-in-class, Danelissima, gets the nod in the Kilcarn Stud EBF Fillies Maiden.
Clearly well-regarded, she started in Group Three company with a promising fifth behind Venturi at the Curragh.
Cheltenham hero, Hardy Eustace, is one to keep an eye on in the Kilnaleck Maiden, but the nod falls on Diego Garcia, two and a half lengths second to John Oxx’s newcomer, Akhtari, over an extended 12 furlongs at Thurles.
