WELD EZ A NEW STAR
Dermot hopeful that his talented filly can continue on an upward curve
BY PETER O’HEHIR
THE Dermot Weld-trained Ezine should deliver on her promising debut second to Tuesday by landing today’s seven-furlong Naas Racecourse Fillies Maiden in Naas.
A Showcasing half-sister to Group 3 scorer Sangarius, this home-bred, Juddmonte-owned filly was an unconsidered 16/1 shot for her debut in a mile maiden at this venue back in late March.
And she ran a race full of promise when coming through to take the runner-up berth, beaten a length and three-quarters, behind Ballydoyle filly Tuesday, who franked the form by finishing third in the Qipco 1,000
Guineas last week, proving herself a likely Cazoo Oaks contender.
That Naas form has also been boosted by the subsequent wins of Georgeta (fourth) and Hymn Book Too (sixth).
Trainer Weld has not rushed Ezine back to the track, preferring to wait for a suitable opportunity for her to shed her maiden tag. And today’s race looks ideal for the Rosewell filly, whom will be ridden again by Chris Hayes.
The card includes a couple of twoyear-old contests. And Aidan O’brien’s well-regarded No Nay Never colt Little Big Bear, narrowly beaten on debut at the Curragh, is expected to make amends in the opening five-furlong maiden.
This fellow was sent favourite for his debut four weeks ago but, having hit the front, was beaten, on the nod, by the Ger Lyons-trained Tough Talk.
He should have learned plenty from that experience and, although dropping back in trip, should prove too strong for Joseph O’brien’s Alexis Zorba, runner-up to subsequent listed winner Blackbeard on his debut in Dundalk.
The Johnny Murtagh-trained Shartash, third behind Tough Talk and Little Big Bear at the Curragh, should take a step forward and prove tough to beat in the five-runner Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race.
But the Invincible Spirit colt might be vulnerable to Ballydoyle debutant Age Of Kings, a 1.1million Guineas Kingman colt.
Joseph O’brien holds a strong hand in the featured, Group 2 Blue Wind Stakes, running both Tranquil Lady and Tosen Lydia.
Winner of a Galway maiden in September before finishing second to Limiti Di Greccio in a listed event, Tranquil Lady should improve from her seasonal debut fourth to Concert Hall in the ‘Salsabil’ at Navan.
But in-form Shane Crosse will be on board unbeaten Tosen Lydia, successful on debut in Bellewstown and a smooth scorer over a mile here on her three-year-old debut. And she might prove good enough.
Punters are facing a trio of tricky