King George River poised tosweep away rivals
The Danehll Dancer colt made an excellent start at Gowran Park last month when, in spite of being slowly away and running green, put up a decent display to score by two and a quarter lengths.
An imposing sort, he has massive scope for improvement and the form was boosted when the second, Sugar Boy, and the fifth, Cest Notre Gris, went on to win minor events at Galway.
Michael Halford’s Dibayani and Pat Shanahan’s Ralston Road are two horses with bright futures, but neither may cope with the selection.
The other Listed event on the card, the Abergwaun Stakes over five furlongs, is also a cracking contest, with the nod falling on English challenger, Free Zone.
This is a progressive three-year-old, who seems to revel on soft ground, producing his best effort to date in a Group 3 at Sandown last time when a close third behind Caledonia Lady and Confessional.
Arctic, another confirmed soft surface performer, was beaten half a length when runner-up to Slade Power at Fairyhouse and is rated the principal danger.
The nap vote goes to Jim Bolger’s Leargas in the McGrath Oil Maiden. He made his debut at Cork last Sunday and went off an unconsidered 16-1 shot.
The son of Kheleyf ran a race rich in promise, however, beaten a length and three parts into second by Curly Wee, and is fancied to build on that.
Colour Of Love looks best in the three-horse Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Race. She is down in class, having finished fourth to Empowering in a Listed race at Naas, and has 9lbs in hand of Modern Romance and 12lbs on Lady Pastrana.
