Guerre clocks fast time as he lowers Maarek’s colours

Guerre proved himself a potentially high-class sprinter when lowering the colours of Prix de L’Abbaye winner Maarek in the listed Woodlands Stakes in Naas last night.

Sent off the 11/4 favourite, the War Front colt clocked a fast 57.84 seconds for the stiff five furlongs, quickening well approaching the furlong-pole to triumph by a length and a half, completing a double for Ballydoyle, initiated by another son of War Front, War Envoy in the opening two-year-old colts’ maiden.

Aidan O’Brien was, understandably impressed by Guerre’s victory, stating: “He’s a fast horse and that was impressive. It wasn’t a bad performance for a three-year-old against the older horses so early in the season. This was his first time running over five furlongs and he’ll probably run in the Greenlands (six furlongs) next.