Empress to build on promising first run

David Wachman’s Royal Empress is the nap choice to build on a promising first run at the Curragh in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Median Auction Fillies Maiden at Limerick tonight.

The daughter of Holy Roman Emperor was well touted prior to her debut and backed from 7-2 to 2-1 favourite. But, after travelling strongly for much of the six furlongs, she weakened in the closing stages to finish a neck and a length and a quarter third behind Nandiga and Delight.

The form is ordinary, but Royal Empress did have one of her main rivals now, Prince Alexander, a length and three parts behind in fourth and should prove hard to beat.