Racecards
18:50 Naas (IRE)
Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Blue Wind Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f
- Going: Yielding to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- €77,500 added
- Winner: €50,375
- 2nd: €14,726
- 3rd: €6,975
- 4th: €2,325
- Form 111370-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer D K Weld
- Jockey P J Smullen
tracked leader, struggling to get to winner from under 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, dropped to 3rd near finish
- Form 371-253
- Age 4
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer J G Murphy
- Jockey G F Carroll
made all, niggled along into straight, soon ridden and had rivals on the stretch from 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong
- Form 56454-3
- Age 4
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer K Prendergast
- Jockey C D Hayes
waited with, mainly in 3rd, switched out to outer to deliver her challenge from 2f out, soon not getting there, kept on into 2nd near finish
- Form 34425-1
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer J S Bolger
- Jockey K J Manning
keen hold, soon in touch last of the 4, ridden 2f out, soon no impression, kept on same pace final furlong
Verdict
PRINCESS HIGHWAY won this last year before landing the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot. Her final three starts of the campaign were all at Group 1 level and she wasn't disgraced in any of them so is the obvious choice today. La Collina never won last season after her brilliant juvenile exploits but raced at the highest level throughout. She has the benefit of a run having stayed on over a trip too short at the Curragh so has to be a threat. Rehn's Nest did well as a juvenile without winning but looked to have improved over the winter when landing a Curragh Group 3 in March. She's a very progressive type and, though having a bit to find, is by no means out of this whereas Euphrasia is useful but looks outclassed.
Formwatch
Princess Highway (USA) 9-2 (8-7) 4w,evn out final 16th, 10th of 13, 7l behind Siyouma (8-12) at Woodbine(USA) 1m 2f flls Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
Euphrasia (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Prominent, no extra from 2f out and switched away from rail, kept on, 3rd of 7, 12l behind Inis Meain (9-5) at Limerick 1m 4f Listed stks (1).
La Collina (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders in 5th, ridden and went 2nd over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, no impression on winner closing stages, 3rd of 9, 3/4l behind Custom Cut (9-3) at Curragh 7f Grp 3 (1) in Apr.
Rehn's Nest (IRE) 9-2 (8-9) Tracked leader in 2nd, challenged 2f out, led 1 1/2f out, ridden and kept on well from over 1f out, won at Curragh 1m flls Group 3 stks (1) hvy in Mar beating Yellow Rosebud (10-0) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.