Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Race (Plus 10)

Off time: 12:51 | Winning time: 1m 46.03s

(2)

Baby Zeus³⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-8| J: Gary Carroll| T: G M Lyons| CD

13/8

Footstepsinthesand gelding, turned over pair of Ballydoyle representatives when making narrow winning debut over C&D last month (third won next time). Concedes 5lb to these rivals now.

Form: 1

(1)

Paso Doble³⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger

28/1

Well-bred Dawn Approach colt, easily beaten in two starts so far over 5f/7f. Possibly will offer a bit more upped in distance.

Form: 88

(3)

Raven's Cry²⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Billy Lee| T: P Twomey

8/11

Raven's Pass filly bought for €58,000, runner-up on debut at Bellewstown (1m, good) last month and improved to land spoils in 7f Galway maiden since. Leading contender on form and getting 5lb from Baby Zeus.

Form: 21

(4)

Strategic Fortune³⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Chris Hayes| T: P J Flynn

100/1

Home-bred Power gelding out of a mare who won in Italy. Last of 14 on debut at Leopardstown last month having gone off an 80-1 chance. Not worthy of consideration on that evidence.

Form: 0

(6)

Strawberry Picker

Age: 2| Weight: 8-12| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: J P O'Brien

20/1

Filly by War Command, doesn't look an obvious contender to threaten likely market principles on first run, unless market vibes suggest different.

Form:

(5)

Zoom Zoom Babe¹⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 8-12| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J P O'Brien

12/1

Footstepsinthesand filly, saw things out well over 7f at Naas on debut, finishing never-nearer third of 14 (still beaten best part of 9L). Can improve on that without necessarily winning.

Form: 3

Forecasts

Raven's Cry (8/11), Baby Zeus (13/8), Zoom Zoom Babe (12/1), Strawberry Picker (20/1), Paso Doble (28/1), Strategic Fortune (100/1)

BABY ZEUS showed a pleasing attitude to win here last month on debut and Ger Lyons' charge might well be up to conceding weight now. There should be plenty more to come and, with that form franked, he's the pick ahead of fellow last time out winner Raven's Cry. The filly landed a Galway maiden in nice style and will make a race of this. Zoom Zoom Babe is best of the rest, unless the market speak for newcomer Strawberry Picker.