CENTREPIECE
Weld trained three-year-old will be the focus of attention
CENTROID will be expected to build on his debut success at Leopardstown four weeks ago in the Naas Membership Race, centrepiece of today’s additional flat meeting in Naas.
The Dermot Weld-trained three-year-old is a Dansili half-brother to superstar Enable, due to make her belated seasonal debut in the September Stakes at Kempton Park on Saturday before bidding to defend her Arc crown.
And, although he has a long way to go to match the achievements of his sister, Centroid made a pleasing start to his career when beating Leaderboard and subsequent winner National Wealth in a mile and a quarter maiden at Leopardstown.
Sure to strip fitter today and likely to be suited by easier ground and the step-up to a mile and a half, Centroid gets the vote in a tricky, five-runner affair, in which Aidan O’brien is represented by seasonal debutant Saracen Knight while Jessica Harrington runs both Boho and Holding Pattern.
Although off the track since June and dropping back to the minimum trip, five furlongs, Aidan O’brien’s once-raced All The King’s Men appeals in the Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Maiden.
This son of No Nay Never (also the sire of rising star Ten Sovereigns), was noted making late headway to finish sixth behind Decrypt in a hot Curragh maiden in June, an effort which suggested he’d be more than capable of a maiden success.
His absence is a concern. So is the trip, although his sire is clearly an influence for speed. This fellow could be smart and is preferred to his 89-rated stable-companion Isle Of Innisfree and Charles O’brien’s 92-rated Count D’orsay, sixth to Indigo Balance in a listed event at the Curragh last time.
And the Jim Bolger-trained Vocal Music, a gutsy winner at the Curragh on Friday, might follow-up in the Christmas Party Raceday At Naas Handicap.
The Vocalised colt went up 4lb for his win, but must carry a 6lb penalty here. He looks progressive, however, and gets the vote to beat Global Pass, narrowly beaten in Killarney last time.
Meanwhile, ground conditions are likely to determine the Irish challenge for Saturday’s Group 1 32Red Sprint Cup in Haydock Park, with Joseph O’brien hoping for rain before deciding on whether to send his progressive three-year-old Speak In Colours, winner of the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint at the Curragh last time.
And Aidan can choose from five – Intelligence Cross, Spirit Of Valor, Fleet Review, Gustav Klimt and Sioux Nation – for the six-furlong event.