Naas Sunday Preview - 15/05/22 | The Winners Enclosure

James Mackie | @jamesmackieee

Fri 13 May 2022 13.38

Naas 12:45

1(2)

The Antarctic

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: A P O'Brien

N/A

Age: 2

Weight: 9-8

OR: N/A

Days: 24

The first race of the afternoon at Naas on Sunday is the 5f Coolmore Stud Calyx Race and we can't look past the favourite The Antarctic.

The 750,000gns purchase looks a superb sprinter in the making being a full brother to the multiple Group One winner Battaash.

Aidan O'Brien's juvenile has been seen once to date when taking out a six runner event at Tipperary, with the penny dropping late on and he showed good speed to come home quicker than the pack.

He should come on for that in a big way and this is just another stepping stone to bigger races this term.

Form: 1View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
21/05/23	NAA	6	Gd	9-5	1
22/04/23	NAV	6	Hy	9-8	3
24/09/22	NMK	6	Gd	9-2	2
21/08/22	DEA	6	Gd	9-0	3
02/08/22	DEA	6	GS	9-0	1

Naas 13:15

7(8)

Geocentric

J: Colin Keane

T: G M Lyons

N/A

Age: 3

Weight: 8-12

OR: 104

Days: 20

The first big race of the day is the Listed Sole Power Sprint Stakes over five furlongs and the horse that takes the eye is the Ger Lyons trained Geocentric.

The daughter of Kodiac is an extremely quick animal running between five and six furlongs and performing to a very consistent level.

Making her debut in July last year she finished a good second over 6f at Naas and off the back of that got of the mark on her first try at 5f.

Back up to 6f in the Group Three Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh she was a good second behind smart stablemate Sacred Bridge.

Sent into the Listed Harry Rosebery Stakes at Ayr she could only manage third behind a nice type for Brian Meehan, but bounced back to form at Dundalk in October when taking a Listed event by close to three lengths.

Put away for the rest of last season she returned this year in April over course and distance and was a close second behind the talented sprinter Romantic Proposal.

She will come on for the run and looks the one to beat on her back form.

Form: 12312View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
16/07/22	CUR	5	Gd	9-2	7
08/06/22	COR	5	Gd	9-0	1
15/05/22	NAA	5	Gd	8-12	3
25/04/22	NAA	5	Gd	8-11	2
01/10/21	DUN	5	St	9-0	1

Naas 13:45

6(7)

Meditate

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O'Brien

N/A

Age: 2

Weight: 9-2

OR: N/A

Days: 35

Another nice contest on the card is the Group Three Fillies' Sprint Stakes over 6f and we are siding with the Aidan O'Brien trained Meditate.

The two year old filly is a €360,000 daughter of No Nay Never that made a very pleasing debut at the Curragh in April when taking a Fillies' Maiden by close to four lengths.

O'Brien's horses normally need the run first time out which would suggest there is improvement to come from her and she looks a very exciting prospect.

Form: 1View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
07/05/23	NMK	8	Sft	9-2	6
04/11/22	KEE	8	Fm	8-10	1
24/09/22	NMK	6	Gd	9-2	2
11/09/22	CUR	7	Sft	9-2	2
20/08/22	CUR	7	Gd	9-2	1

Naas 14:15

2(5)

Dante's Pass

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

N/A

Age: 4

Weight: 9-11

OR: 97

Days: 197

The Owenstown Stud Stakes over seven furlongs looks another tricky affair for punters but we like the Joseph O'Brien trained Dante's Pass.

The four year old son of Dark Angel has looked a talented individual winning both his first two starts as a juvenile at Listowel and Limerick.

Sent to Newmarket up into a Listed event when last seen he was beaten by some proven horses at the mile and now making his seasonal debut it might be the time to catch him when fresh.

Interesting runner.

Form: 115View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
22/10/22	LEO	8	Sft	9-4	10
20/09/22	LIS	9	Gd/Y	9-9	14
25/06/22	CUR	8	Gd	9-11	16
30/10/21	NMK	8	Gd	8-13	5
09/10/21	LIM	7	Hy	9-11	1

Naas 14:45

4(6)

Straight Answer

J: Colin Keane

T: G M Lyons

N/A

Age: 3

Weight: 9-5

OR: 110

Days: 22

One of the feature events of the afternoon is the Group Three Lacken Stakes and we are siding with the Ger Lyons trained Straight Answer.

The three year old was a very smart juvenile winning his first two starts at the Curragh and at Fairyhouse over six furlongs and he then rounded off last season moving up to seven furlongs.

He was seen in the Group One Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket where not taking to the step up in trip and unfortunately ran no race, finishing last of the eight.

Back at six furlongs for his seasonal debut this term he ran a cracker to finish a length behind New York City, who he takes on again in this.

Aidan O'Brien's colt had the benefit of already having a run before that last race and with Straight Answer now set to be at full fitness, he could overturn the form.

Form: 1182View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
09/06/22	LEO	7	Gd/Y	8-13	2
15/05/22	NAA	6	Gd	9-5	6
23/04/22	NAV	6	Gd	9-5	2
09/10/21	NMK	7	Gd	9-1	8
20/09/21	FAI	6	GF	9-5	1

Naas 16:15

7(8)

River Derwent

J: Hugh Horgan

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

N/A

Age: 4

Weight: 9-7

OR: 83

Days: 13

The final selection of the afternoon at Naas comes in the Handicap over a mile and River Derwent for Joseph O'Brien looks one of the more likely winners.

The four year old son of Kingman was poor on his first two starts for David Simcock and moved to O'Brien in 2021 and made his debut for the yard in the August, getting off the mark in a decent Maiden at Leopardstown.

Sent to Galway over 8.5f he was a good second in a 14 runner race and unfortunately he rounded off last season with a poor run at Cork, with the soft ground going against him.

Back this season, the 220,000gns purchase got back to form when second of 17 on handicap debut at the curragh off a mark of 81.

Only up a further 2lb he looks to have a big chance.

Form: 41202View