6 days ago
Composing out to build on maiden success
Two matinee meetings take place on Thursday, the National Hunt variety in Wexford and a good Flat programme in Leopardstown.
The nap comes in Dublin, where the Aidan O'Brien-trained Composing can build on her maiden success by taking the Group 3 Saudi Cup Silver Flash Stakes.
Fifth to Balantina on debut, she stepped up considerably by taking a Curragh maiden on her second start, doing so by beating Cape Sounion by three parts of a length.
Most impressive in that display was the pace she showed to take command of the race.
While she is stepping up in trip, that shouldn't be an issue for the first foal of Epona Plays, who won at Group 2 level and twice at Group 3. She is an exciting prospect and can prove more than a match for her five rivals.
Red Autumn is respected as a live danger. Given how much she stepped forward from her debut to her second start, she could yet be anything and cannot be dismissed lightly despite coming from a Bellewstown maiden to a Group race at this venue.
Brownstown was a comfortable winner of a maiden over course and distance and can fill the frame.
Only four go to post for the Group 3 Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes and it is difficult to look beyond Flushing Meadows, who followed up a debut victory with a runner-up finish in a Group 3.
That sets the standard, and he can bounce back to winning ways. North Coast is the danger, though Adrian Murray runs two, the more interesting of which is debutant Prospect Thunder. Market support for the latter would be worth noting.
The Boylesports Best Odds Guaranteed Rated Race looks fiercely competitive, but Floresta is progressive enough to supplement her recent maiden success.
Johnny Murtagh's filly caught the eye on her turf debut and duly built on it by winning in Limerick. The extra furlong of this race will eke further improvement, and she can take this at the expense of Happy Pharaoh.
The jumps crew is in Wexford, where yesterday's all-chase card is followed by a seven-hurdle and one-bumper card. Yeah, it's probably work-saving and financially prudent but, boy, does it continue a worrying trend of boredom-inducing programmes, and flies in the opposite direction to the mixed cards which would be of such benefit to many of our festivals.
Long live Galway, in its current guise. Just a few days more to wait.