Native Warrior will be difficult to stop
Diego Velazquez, with Ryan Moore up, left, on their way to winning the Romanised Minstrel Stakes from second place East Hampton, with Luke McAteer up. Pic: Matt Browne/Sportsfile
British raider Native Warrior can bounce back to winning ways in the Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes, the feature race on Thursday evening’s Leopardstown card.
Trained by Karl Burke, the Wootton Bassett gelding enjoyed a fine 2025, winning three of his seven starts, most notably the Challenge Cup at Ascot in October, before concluding his four-year-old campaign by finishing fifth at the same venue in the Balmoral Handicap.
He was sent to France for his first start for his seasonal reappearance in March and ran a fine race, going down by only half a length to Dreamliner in a Group 3 at Saint-Cloud in March.
On the back of that effort, he was expected to make his first trip to Ireland a winning one but failed to land a blow in a listed contest at Naas last month.
That was a disappointing display but his overall profile — finishing in the first three in 11 of his 16 starts — shows that he is better than that Naas run.
If he puts his best hoof forward this time, he’ll be hard to stop.
East Hampton can give the selection most to think about.
The David Marnane-trained son of Cracksman doesn’t win often, just twice in 13 starts, but he made an encouraging start to his four-year-old campaign when second to Big Goosey in the Gladness Stakes at the Curragh in March.
If he runs to that level again, he ought to be in the mix.
Jessica Harrington has leading claims in the opening two races on the card.
Cromac Quay can make it third time lucky in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
Unraced at two, the daughter of Night Of Thunder outperformed market expectations when third on debut at Leopardstown in April.
That looked smart form at the time and looks even better now given Thundering On, the runner-up that day, has since bolted up in the Oaks at Epsom.
On the back of her promising debut, Cromac Quay was then sent to Naas where she finished second to Sparan Nua. While another decent effort, the way she faded late on suggests this furlong shorter trip could be a wise move.
If that proves the case, she should deliver though market support for newcomer Blooming Rose, trained by Joseph O’Brien, would temper confidence somewhat.
The Harrington-trained Pisiffik Ginger shaped well when fourth on debut at Fairyhouse last month and, if she builds on that promising effort, she may be able to get the better of Star Glory in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden.
Darren Norris' picks:
5.30 Pisiffik Ginger
6.00 Cromac Quay (NB)
6.30 Only One Scobie
7.00 Native Warrior (Nap)
7.30 Coeur d'Or
8.00 Electric Beauty
8.30 Rodeo Blues
5.30 Star Glory
6.00 Blooming Rose
6.30 Loingseoir
7.00 East Hampton
7.30 Moyassr
8.00 Spanish Temptress
8.30 Khormor Syd
