Quartz can show right spirit in sprint
Traditionally sprinters from across the water are generally better than ours and, hopefully, at least from a punting point of view, that will again prove the case.
The son of Invincible Spirit was a winner four times in his native Italy and has been seen just once in Britain, on the all-weather at Lingfield. Not much went right for him that day. He was slowly into stride, soon at the tail of the field and then had to challenge widest of all in the straight.
The selection powered home, but was still half a length adrift of surprise winner, Fratellino, at the line.
He seems to handle all sorts of ground, certainly if it turns soft that will hold no fears for him, and the booking of Pat Smullen is a big plus, on a stiff track which is likely to play to his strengths.
John Oxx’s once-raced Royal Visit can take the six furlongs goracingatnaasracecourse.com Maiden.
She very much caught the eye when third of 30 to Redoutable and Rigoletta at the Curragh last month, after having the worst of the draw.
If the market speaks in his favour then Ger Lyons’ Strada Colorato can land the Naas Median Auction Maiden. He was noted doing all his best work at the finish when five lengths second behind Learn at Leopardstown in August, a contest which has worked out quite well. An extra furlong can only be in his favour.
At the Curragh tomorrow Aidan O’Brien takes the wraps off some of his big guns, led by Excelebration in the Group 3 Gladness Stakes.
Formerfly top class for Marco Botti, this will be his first run for O’Brien. Excelebration was last seen chasing home Frankel in the Queen Elizabeth 11 Stakes at Ascot in October and is going to go off at short odds now.
O’Brien unveils Nephrite, who currently takes high order in the market for the English 2000 Guineas, in the Loughrown Stakes. His length and a half defeat of Born To Sea at Leopardstown in October speaks for itself, so it it is just a question of the state of fitness for the son of Pivotal.
The nap vote falls on Ansaab in the Finlay’s For Volvo Handicap. He only went up 3lbs for chasing home Sharestan in the Irish Lincoln on this track and that was a smart effort.
