CAR SHOW
Unbeaten star can land the Naas feature
THE returning Caravaggio is the star turn of today’s high-class Flat card at Naas.
Last season, Caravaggio progressed into the star sprinting two-year-old of Europe when he went unbeaten in four starts.
The level of form that he showed last summer puts him a long way clear of his rivals in this afternoon’s EMS Copiers Lacken Stakes.
Admittedly Caravaggio has a lengthy absence to overcome and he also has to shoulder a Group 1 penalty, but he isn’t one to take on.
As a juvenile he won the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in fine style and followed up in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.
Provided he has trained on he will take all the beating, particularly with his yard in red-hot form.
The obvious threat to the favourite is Khukri, who won a Listed race at Navan last month, defeating several of today’s rivals, but Mr Scarlet is put forward as an each-way alternative.
He looked to need the run at Navan when he shaped better than the final result would suggest. Meanwhile, in the Coolmore Stud EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes, the exciting Alpha Centauri can remain unbeaten.
She looked a potentially top-class juvenile when she made a winning debut at this track three weeks ago.
On that occasion, Jessica Harrington’s charge produced a commanding effort from the front to defeat fellow newcomer Actress.
There is no reason why she won’t progress from that run and she should uphold the form with Actress, who won at the Curragh last weekend.
The Rochestown Stakes is a tricky contest with six of the seven runners having won last time out.
A case could be made for each of them and marginal preference is for Dali, following his course and distance win last time.
The Owenstown Stud Stakes represents a straightforward opportunity for Newmarket winner Whitecliffsofdover.
In the opening maiden it is hard to look past the chances of Xenobia, while Sweet Sounds is taken to stay unbeaten on her comeback in the three-year-old handicap.