Osterhase rolls back the years

Osterhase returned to his best form when winning the Naas Sprint Stakes for a second time.

John Mulhern’s seven-year-old showed his old dash by making most of the running to win eased down by a length and a half from last year’s winner Moon Unit.

Osterhase, the 9-2 joint-favourite, had lifted this Listed race over five furlongs in 2004 and was third 12 months ago.

Well clear over a furlong out, he was switched from the centre of the course to the far rail by Fran Berry, who had time to acknowledge the crowd as he crossed the line.

Mulhern was absent but his representative Stephen McCarthy said: “He pulled up lame here the last day – he has very brittle feet.

“He’s in at Royal Ascot but the owners would like him to run again in the King of Beer Stakes at the Curragh on Irish Derby day (July 2).

Berry added: “He’s just coming to himself. He worked well during the week and he always seems to come good in June.”

Osterhase won the King of Beer Stakes two years ago and was runner-up in 2003 and 2005.

Brazilian Bride maintained her unbeaten record with a smooth victory in the Swordlestown Stud Sprint Stakes.

The Kevin Prendergast-trained juvenile filly had made a winning debut over the course and distance on soft ground in April but looked equally at home on these faster conditions.

After tracking the leader Amber Valley, trained by Kevin Ryan, Brazilian Bride hit the front a furlong out and went on to justify 5-4 favouritism by two lengths from Gee Kel, with the sole British raider third.

Prendergast said: “I think she’s pretty smart. She loves the ground. She settled nicely and she bounced off the ground.

“Stepping up to seven furlongs would be no problem. We have no real plans yet but a possibility would be the Phoenix Stakes in August and then maybe the Moyglare could be the job.

Amber Valley’s rider Neil Callan said: “She ran well but that’s about her mark. The winner is very good.”