ALPHA DOESN’T BREAK SWEAT
IN yesterday’s two-year-old action at Naas, Jessica Harrington’s Alpha Centauri confirmed herself a potential star when bolting-up for Colm O’donoghue in the listed fillies event. As a result of the impressibe win the filly was cut to 3/1 favourite (from 6) for the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot by Paddy Power. “She got a bit of an education today,” stated winning trainer Jessica Harrington. “She’s so relaxed that she hardly breaks sweat. But the further they went, the further she went away. This proves that it wasn’t an illusion the last day.” In the other listed juvenile event, the Joseph O’brien-trained True Blue Moon, ridden by brother Donnacha, booked his ticket to Royal Ascot (for either the Norfolk or Windsor Castle) when prevailing over 20/1 shot Verhoyen in the Coolmore War Command Rochestown Stakes. And Curragh trainer Michael Grassick savoured his first stakes-race success when 16/1 shot Texas Rock, under Billy Lee, prevailed over Drumfad Bay and favourite Whitecliffsofdover in the listed Owenstown Stud Stakes. LPUNCHESTOWN stages today’s action, a jumps card transferred from Sligo and Joseph O’brien supplies the day’s nap, Los Amigos. He is expected to build on his debut third behind His Dream and subsequent winner Cornelius Sulla at Down Royal in the bumper. And O’brien might also strike with Sword Fighter in the La Touche Restaurant Rated Novice Hurdle. The four-year-old, third to Dodgybingo in Ballinrobe last time, will appreciate the step up to two and a half miles and should prove tough to beat.