Naas Sunday Preview - 21/05/23

The first race of the afternoon on Sunday from Naas is the Coolmore Stud Calyx Race over 5f and we can't see past the favourite River Tiber.

Seen once to date at Navan when bolting up by 10 lengths in a Maiden over 5 1/2f, he looked a superstar in the making and with Ryan Moore choosing him over stablemate Democracy, he is the one to beat.

The first Listed event of the afternoon is the Sole Power Sprint Stakes over 5f and we are looking to forgive Castle Star for last season and getting back to better ground can find his form again.

An extremely smart juvenile when placing in four of his seven events including the Group One Middle Park Stakes and Group Two Railway Stakes, whilst also landing two nice at Listed and Group Two level.

Back as a three year old last term he was only seen on three occasions, finishing fifth of nine on debut at the Curragh in the Sapphire Stakes and then finishing eighth of 19 runners in the Group One Flying Five Stakes.

Finishing the season at Ascot when running no race in the Group One Champion Sprint Stakes, he gets back to 5f on a better surface here and down in grade can get his career back on track.

Another nice event follows with the Group Three Fillies Sprint Stakes over 6f and the English raider Ziggy's Dream has some of the best form in the book.

Seen twice to date over 5f in the UK when making a good debut at Doncaster over 5f when getting off the mark in fine style, she was then seen finishing a good second to Ziggy's Phoenix in the Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes at Chester.

She has been seen twice on soft and will need to handle this new ground, but the way she finished at Chester suggests the step up to 6f will suit and not lacking pace she looks a very likeable type.

The next event on Sunday from Naas is the Listed Owenstown Stud Stakes over 7f and we have picked out two runners that should go close.

The first is the Joseph Murphy trained Lord Massusus who was consistent at the back end of 2022 when finishing second on his final start in a Maiden at Gowran Park and then when sent into handicap company he landed the first race of his career over a mile off a mark of 80.

Dropped to 6f at the Curragh he showed his versatility by making it 2/2 in good fashion and then back up to 7f over C&D he was a close third in the competitive Auction Series Race Final.

Seen twice this year he picked up where he left off last term winning at Gowran Park with ease off joint top weight and then in a Premier Handicap over 6f at Naas made it back to back wins for the season.

In the form of his life and he deserves his chance in Listed company.

At a bigger price is the Ger Lyons trained filly Smile Of Love who was a fair juvenile learning the ropes but in 2022 took her form to a new level.

Second on seasonal debut last term when second at Tipperary over 7.5f only going down by 1/2 a furlong to the talented Spring Feeling.

She then made it back to back wins at Bellewstown over a mile and 7f at Dundalk on handicap debut off a mark of 88.

Seen once more back at Dundalk when bumped up to a mile at Listed level she was a good third behind a nice stablemate in Juncture and having her first run of the season having proven her class at this level she is worth a watch.

The feature race of the afternoon at Naas is the Grade Three Lacken Stakes over 6f and we are giving another chance to The Antractic, who looked to need his seasonal debut.

A well bred full brother to the superstar sprinter Battaash, he made a superb start to his career when landing his first two events at Tipperary and Naas over 5f, but was then stepped up to the Group Two Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot and ran no race.

Moved up to 6f at Chantilly when chasing home his talented stablamte Blackbeard in the Group Two Prix Robert Papin, he then stayed at that trip at Deauville and got back to winning ways in the Group Three Prix de Cabourg.

Seen twice more at the end of his juvenile season he was a close third behind Blackbeard again in the Group One Prix Morny and then finished the season on good ground when once again behind the superstar Blackbeard in the Group One Middle Park Stakes.

Starting this season off at Navan when certainly needing the run in the Listed Commited Stakes behind Ocean Quest and stablemate Aesop's Fables, he will need to reverse the form with Ocean Quest but back on better ground we are hoping he can do so.

The penultimate selection of the afternoon on Sunday comes in the Fillies Maiden over a mile and we are taking a chance on Persian Jewel for Paddy Twomey.

Making her debut at Leopardstown in a Fillies Maiden over a mile in April, she finished a good third behind two nice types in Curvature and Warm Heat.

Sure to improve for her debut run and being related to the superstar sire Galileo, she could have a big future.

The final pick from Naas on Sunday comes in the mile Handicap and the Jessica Harrington trained National Emblem could be even better now handicapping.

Making his debut over 6f back in June at the Curragh in what looked a hot affair with the Group One winner Victoria Road back in second,

He was then moved up in trip at Gowran Park over 7f and finished 1/2 a length ahead of the talented Lord Massusus, who has since franked the form.

Now handicapping off a mark of 89 there could be more to come.