Arizona Raider can steal spoils at Roscommon
Mick Mulvany's promising colt is picked to score at Roscommon. Pic: Healy Racing
Arizona Raider, stepping-up in trip, might make full use of his experience in the Irish EBF Auction Series 2-Y-0 Maiden in Roscommon.
The Arizona colt is trained by Mick Mulvany, who has already saddled a juvenile winner this season, and has shown distinct promise in both starts.
He was hampered by a tardy start on his debt at the Curragh, but still showed signs of promise in finishing over five lengths fifth behind Star Prospect and subsequent scorer Carry The Flag.
Tapped for toe on that occasion, Arizona Raider stepped up to almost six furlongs for his second start and produced an improved effort, recovering from another awkward start to hold every chance and finishing third, beaten two lengths, behind Tribeca and Barrow Boy, who franked the form when scoring smoothly at the same venue on Saturday.
Six of Arizona Raider’s rivals today are newcomers, including runners representing Joseph O’Brien and Paddy Twomey.
But the selection should be battle hardened after two runs. He gives the impression that he’ll be suited by this step-up to an extended seven furlongs and should prove a tough nut to crack.
Jospeh O’Brien’s team continues in top form. And he has obvious prospects throughout the card, with eight-race maiden Kilcrea Rock making plenty of appeal in the Connolly’s Red Mills Handicap.
In the frame in a couple of maidens last October, this Wootton Basset gelding made his four-year-old debut at Leopardstown last week, did everything right and came through to look the likely winner in the final furlong before being mugged late and beaten by Truth Be Told.
Although raised 4lb. for that run, Kilcrea Rock looks set to make his mark as a four-year-old. And this looks a good opportunity for him to open his account.
O’Brien’s Obscenity, a Fastnet Rock gelding, came good in style when bolting-up in Navan last month, beating Maeve Brennan by five and a half lengths, his second outing in a visor.
The handicapper reacted by pitting him up a whopping 14lb., which will, clearly, make life difficult.
But there might be more in the tank. And he might prove too strong for top-weight Amplitude in the Racing Again On June 8th Handicap.
4.50 Star Of Beauty
5.20 Arizona Raider (Nap)
5.50 Bella Colombia
6.20 Karrygrant
6.50 Kilcrea Rock (nb)
7.20 Musashi
7.50 Obscenity
8.20 Deluca Chop
4.50 Mo Anam Chara
5.20 Glenade
5.50 Royal Impact
6.20 Chaning Lanes
6.50 Syzygy
7.20 Sea Of Dubka
7.50 Amplitude
8.20 Sayidah New Bay
