Celerity Headlines Ireland’s Resident Turf Futurity

Eight young horses have come to represent Ireland in the Resident Turf Futurity. It will be run a mile on the turf course for a purse of $75,000. Local hero Celerity headlines this one, but he faces some interesting competition that will surely not let him just walk away with the title.

In post one at 16/1 is crowblack’s Ninja Girl(GER), the second of his Samum(GER) babies running today. Just like Ride The Shoopuf(GER) in the Resident Dirt Futurity, she has drawn the rail and will be ridden by D. Nickesy. Unlike Shoopuf, this one has stayed on the turf and has done alright for herself. She was gaining ground in her last, and ran her best speed figure to date, and I think the extra furlong here may be to her liking.

In post two at 5/1 is twinhollow’s A Real Cool Cat. Hmm…I have a couple of old Sea Hero mares standing around my pastures, maybe I just found a sire for them. This little guy has only missed the board once, and he ran a career-best 83 in that one while collecting fourth in a stakes on dirt. He switched to turf for an allowance here in Ireland and won easily. With Mizzi Russell on board, he looks like a real threat.

In post three at 7/1 is davep2’s Prismatic Light. This is the debut for the scratch-bred, but with a pedigree of Fantastic Light x El Gran Senor x Blushing Groom(FR), he certainly should have natural ability. Ireland already has one 2yo stakewinner by Fantastic Light…a good ride by R. Inch could add this colt to the tally.

In post four at 5/1 is naturesway’s Spirit Within You. Why did I just bother to look up the owner of this stable, surely Kris S. as damsire should have told me. This horse hasn’t been talked about much, but he may be soon. He ran in his first stakes last time out and ran third with an 82. He seems to be improving nicely, and Z. Kentucky in the irons really heightens his chances.

In post five at 6/1 is mariana2’s Dresden. This sweetheart by Lammtarra tore through her debut like a romp in the park, wiring a field in Norway with a 76 speed figure. Her dam has already produced one foal who is a useful looking dirt sprinter, but if her debut is any indication, it looks like this girl will be quite happy on turf. H. Wester is in the saddle.

In post six at 4/1 is browns’ Crypt Robber. A handsomely-bred Gone West filly, she has missed the board only once when stepping up to the graded level. She shipped to Ireland shortly after and collected the place in two dirt sprint stakes before opting for a track-restricted allowance in Sweden last time out to test her turf abilities. She equalled her best speed figure, an 81, and stays on the turf here to see if it was a fluke. The real question is whether she will want a mile, as she has a ton of sprint-speed in her pedigree. A. Reed gives her a good shot as long as that question doesn’t become an issue.

In post seven at 9/1 is cronberg2’s Grand’N Blue(IRE). Ah yes, another nice looking Grandera(IRE) entered in the races not restricted to IRE-breds. It’s so nice to see someone having enough success with their IRE tags that they have too many to enter in the races just for Irishbreds. My friend, you are an inspiration to us all. This colt has been a bit up and down in his consistency, but has run an 80 twice on turf. He has gained ground in the stretch in each race though, and just maybe the extra distance today is what he needs. L. Montgomery is in the irons.

And here is our favourite. If you visit the Ireland residency at all, you’ve heard of Celerity. All three of his wins have come under the expert guidance of E C Doyle, and naturally she is up again today. His last outing in The Serial LC(IRE) Special saw him record an 86 speed figure while winning his first stakes. The extra sixteenth today will surely please the handsome son of Sadler’s Wells. His odds are 2/1.

I’m sure the question on most people’s minds in this one is, who could beat Celerity? While he is deserving of the favourite status, there are plenty of question marks in this one that could serve as an upset. A Real Cool Cat seemed to enjoy the turf last time out, Spirit Within You with Kentucky up is already stakesplaced, a presumably sharp Dresden could show big improvement after her already-impressive debut, and the unraced Prismatic Light could blow them all away. Whatever happens, good luck to all and may they all come home sound. GO IRELAND!