Small Field to Contest Celebrations in Ireland

With so many races being staged to celebrate the Sim History Day, some races were always going to struggle to get a capacity field and that’s the case in Ireland. As part of their celebrations to mark this day, Ireland with be running the Techranger Irish Day Stakes. Open to three-year-olds over 8 furlongs on turf the race sees only four runners take up the challenge.

Coming out of post position 1 will be Cat’s Cry (IRE) from the dioscuri stable, this Street Cry colt comes into this as the most inexperienced runner of the four with only having had seven career starts. Four starts back made Stakes debut with a 2^nd in the Inspired Cat Memorial when he tried to lead the entire trip. Followed this with another 2^nd in the Cryptozot Special again at Stakes level when just failed to hold out the graded place getter Slew in a Storm by ¼ length. Return to winners stall when dropped back to three-year-old allowance to make three wins from six starts. Last start ran first unplaced run when tried over 10 furlongs for the first timel. Will appreciate the drop back in distance and with two wins from three starts over the journey should be thereabouts at the end. As the only locally bred entry in the race is sure to be the sentimental favourite by the local crowd.

Post 2 sees the Testa Rossa colt Saddle Up Nasu (AUS) from the racelord stable lining up to contest his first Stakes race. This promising colt has won six of his eleven starts including winning five of his last six. Has been improving speed ratings with each start and after winning two on end came out last start and recorded career best speed rating of 105 in winning three-year-old allowance. Has done all his racing at the Denmark track up to this point so will be interesting how he handles the change of track and new jockey. His dam Mike’s First by Sadler’s Wells has produced four foals to race including the Stakes winner Dubfly’s Wells. Has more than earned a shot at Stakes level and comes into this as the punters elect and you can’t argue with winning form.

Jumping from Post 3 is Playing Ground (GB) representing the foxon2 stable. After showing promise as two-year-old has been a little frustrating for his connections during recent outings. Four starts back ran 3^rd in the owner restricted 100 Guineas Stakes before being placed twice at allowance level. Last start run 6^th over this distance and surface at allowance level when was able to record career best speed rating of 101. Can be prone to mixing form a little and recent efforts do not give confidence that his up to a Stakes win.

Finely from Post 4 is Final Frontier (KY) from the snowphantm stable and comes into this as the long shot of the field at 4/1. Failed at his only other Stakes attempt when having first start on dirt in the Owner Restricted in the Delpenn Derby. Has since returned to turf where he has recorded two wins from last four starts including last start when he recorded best win when registering 99 speed rating for 1¼ length win at allowance level. Is nicely bred being by Cozzene out of Storm Bird and has won two from two over 8 furlongs on turf in the past.

Having a look at the field it appears the Saddle Up Nasu has the strongest claims with Cat’s Cry being the only possible danger being able break through for his first Stakes win. Playing Ground and Final Frontier are capable if they can improve on recent efforts but on paper look to be fighting out for the third place.