Harrington on a Quest for more Ballyogan success at Naas
The Jessica Harrington-trained Ocean Quest heads a dozen runners for the Group 3 Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF Ballyogan Stakes at Naas on Sunday.
Harrington won the 2020 renewal of this race with Group 1 performer Millisle and the 107-rated Ocean Quest will give the popular Moone-based trainer strong claims again this weekend.
Having been won by the William Haggas-trained Perfect News last season, there is further British representation this weekend as Karl Burke sends over Secret Angel who will be the mount of Sam James.
Colin Keane has been booked for the Willie McCreery-trained Ocean Jewel for the €100,000 contest. McCreery’s daughter of Sioux Nation was a Group 3 winner at Leopardstown last time out and previously ran well in the Group 3 Goffs Lacken Stakes at Naas.
“Ocean Jewel is a lovely filly and she’s been progressing nicely all the way along,” McCreery said.
“We’ll be hoping not too much rain falls over the weekend as she likes the track at Naas and it is a race we want to run in to get her going again. She has done nothing wrong and we were thrilled with her at Leopardstown the last day. She is a nice filly and we are looking forward to Sunday.”
Joseph O’Brien and Fozzy Stack are both responsible for two runners in the field and the two older fillies in the line-up.
O’Brien’s Honey Sweet and Stack’s My Eyes Adore You are the two four-year-olds among the 12-strong field and will be joined by their respective younger stable companions, Queen Maedbh and Aussie Girl.
The Johnny Murtagh-trained Clounmacon and David Marnane’s Lady Tilbury will be both aiming to follow up on recent victories, while last year’s winning rider Chris Hayes is booked for the Eddie and Patrick Harty-trained Coralillo.
Course and distance winner Apricot Twist represents Ger Lyons and Gary Carroll with the field completed by the John Kinsella-trained Bellaphina who has already won twice this season under regular partner Conor Maxwell.
Sunday’s winner of the Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF Ballyogan Stakes will not only take the lion’s share of the €100,000 prize money but earn a free entry for the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes at the Irish Champions Festival next month.
The first of eight races on Sunday at Naas is due off at 1.30pm with the finale at 5.30pm the opening leg of the 2023 Corinthian Challenge Charity Race Series.
Sunday is also the ever popular Family Fun Day at Naas Racecourse with lots of free activities for the kids. Family tickets for two adults with kids are available for €25.
