Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Median Auction Race (Plus 10)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 1m 7.71s

(5)

Early Call⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Gary Carroll| T: M Mulvany

16/1

Twice raced Tough As Nails colt out of a fairly moderate dam (Miss Spirit), but built upon his Tipperary debut (5F) when fourth of eleven to Treasuring at Navan (5F) last weekend. Encounters softer ground and stronger company today.

Form: 54

(2)

Verhoyen^h²⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Billy Lee| T: M C Grassick

15/8

Plenty to like about his three starts to date and has twice made good late headway over this trip, on debut at Naas in March, and when beaten ½L by True Blue Moon in a Listed contest at Naas last month. Soft ground will hold no fears.

Form: 352

(4)

Gasta¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| C

6/4

Ponied to the start and slowly away, but got to grips with racing quickly thereafter and stayed on well to edge out Now You're Talking on debut in a 6F fillies maiden here a fortnight ago. Drops in trip which is a slight concern, but a major player on that showing. Holds a Group 1 Keenland Phoenix Stakes entry here in August.

Form: 1

(3)

Too Familiar⁴⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: N G McCullagh| T: J P Murtagh| D

11/4

€25,000 yearling by Clodovil out of Amazon Beauty, who was off the mark at the first attempt at Navan in late April (5F good). Has been given a few weeks off since, but she quickened up like a useful filly and deserves to take her chance here in stronger company.

Form: 1

(1)

Philadelphia Story²⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 8-12| J: Wayne Lordan| T: S Lynam

25/1

Rear division finish on debut over C&D last month in a race won by the Aidan O'Brien trained Actress. Encounters softer ground today and in deep against a couple of previous winners. Likely outsider.

Form: 7

Forecasts

Gasta (6/4), Verhoyen (15/8), Too Familiar (11/4), Early Call (16/1), Philadelphia Story (25/1)

A small field, but competitive nevertheless, with a couple of scopey once raced winners going head to head with the Listed runner up Verhoyen. The Grassick trained colt has shown his best form at Naas and his latest run behind True Blue Moon is the clear form pick, but GASTA promises to come on a bundle for her 6F course fillies maiden success, and with the ground riding soft, this drop back in trip to 5F is less of a worry than it might have been on a faster surface.