Press Release – 27th May 2016

O’Brien Declares Washington DC and Waterloo Bridge for featured Bar One Group 3 Lacken Stakes at Naas Aidan O’Brien has given the green light to both Waterloo Bridge and Washington DC to go head-to-head in the Bar One Racing Group 3 Lacken Stakes at Naas this Sunday 29^th May. The Ballydoyle-trained inmates are just two of seven classy entries for the feature contest on Royal Ascot Trials Day at Naas. Washington DC has won two of his three starts this season, while Waterloo Bridge has yet to taste victory since his win in the Norfolk Stakes at the Royal Meeting 12 months ago. O’Brien landed the 2014 renewal of the Bar One Lacken Stakes in 2014 with Due Diligence, who subsequently placed in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Ascot. The Jim Bolger-trained Smash Williams makes his eagerly anticipated seasonal debut in the race and he has plenty of Royal Ascot entries, as does the Martyn Meade-trained Acclaim, who is the only British challenger in the line-up and will have the assistance of Champion jockey Pat Smullen in the saddle. Willie McCreery will also let recent Killarney winner Erysimum take her chance. McCreery said; “Its’s a proper Group race with some really good horses in there, but we are very happy with her. It is a step up in class, but she is in very good form and we think she’ll run a nice race. The stiff six furlongs around Naas should suit her”. Michael Halford was forced to withdraw his star filly Anamba from last weekend’s Irish 1,000 Guineas following a change in going. The Curragh-based trainer has not waited too long in getting the Godolphin-owned filly back out in public as she takes her position in the Owenstown Stud Stakes over seven furlongs. No less than 12 subsequent Royal winners had previously run at this Naas fixture since 2010 and Ger Lyons will be hoping that his hugely exciting Psychedelic Funk will add to that record as he contests the Coolmore War Command Rochestown Stakes, ahead of an expected assault on the Group 2 Coventry Stakes, for which he is already as short as 6-1. The Aidan O’Brien-trained Cuff looks to have a big chance of winning the Coolmore Stud EBF Fillies’ Sprint Stakes. The British challenge is made up by the Richard Fahey-trained Melesina and Megan Lily, Richard Hannon’s Pepita and the James Tate-trained Seafront. Altogether, there are six British-trained challengers throughout the eight race card at Naas. Royal Ascot Trials Day begins with the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies’ Maiden, due off at 2.05pm. The Corinthian Challenge Charity Race brings proceedings to a close, and the event, which begins at Naas this Sunday, is run in conjunction with The Irish Injured Jockeys Fund. For further information, contact Catherine Murray Sales & Marketing Manager, Naas Racecourse on 087 465 0761 or email cmurray@naasracecourse.com.

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