14:10 Listowel

Sunday 4 June 2017

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:1017:40

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden (Plus 10)

Off time: 14:12 | Winning time: 1m 20.18s

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Selected odds by:

(7)

Donors Green

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Rory Cleary| T: J J Walsh

66/1

Canford Cliffs colt who has several winners in his pedigree, but those are mostly over further, so he could appreciate more of a test of stamina in time.

Form:

(4)

Dowhatisay^t¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: C R King| T: J P O'Brien

12/1

Ran a fair race no debut to finish fourth out of five runners, not beaten too far, at Navan (5f, good to firm). The extra distance here should suit, and he is capable of improving on that first performance.

Form: 4

(6)

Monkeylou

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: P J Smullen| T: G Elliott

5/4

Dream Ahead colt who cost 40,000gns as a yearling and is related to plenty of winners, including some with black-type. Could go close on debut.

Form:

(1)

Natty Dresser²⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Gary Carroll| T: Ms S Lavery

11/2

Ran to a similar level on his first two starts, failing to see out the race in the closing stages on both occasions. Has to show more now, and now clear signs of improvement so far.

Form: 75

(11)

Shandon⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: S Foley| T: J J Murphy

66/1

Never figured on debut at Leopardstown. Down in trip by a furlong now but that seems unlikely to spark the required massive improvement to get involved in this.

Form: 0

(8)

Vocal Music

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: D M Redmond⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Bolger

20/1

Vocalised colt out of a Galileo mare and has a fair pedigree, but looks the yard's second string on jockey bookings.

Form:

(12)

Ballot Box²²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington

8/1

Failed to take a step forward from her debut on her second start when finishing down the field. Has her sights lowered now and still can't be dismissed due to her racecourse experience and her respected connections.

Form: 60

(2)

Dream Of Words

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger

16/1

Dream Ahead filly who cost €48,000, out of an unraced half-sister to US Grade 1 winner Angara. Entitled to make a bold bid on debut for a trainer who often does well with his juveniles.

Form:

(5)

Drombeg Dream¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Colin Keane| T: A Leahy

10/1

Went close on her second start at Cork last time, but that race lacked the depth of her debut appearance at Navan, and so it's difficult to tell if she genuinely improved. Has shown signs of inexperience in both races and must get over those before genuinely threatening in a maiden.

Form: 93

(10)

Rhythm Of Love¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: K K Hennessy⁽⁵⁾| T: D Hogan

33/1

Only beat one horse home on her debut at Cork (5f, good), but shaped like a horse who could step forward from that, and no surprise to see her do better now.

Form: 6

(3)

Shecanrally

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Ronan Whelan| T: P J Prendergast

33/1

Arcano colt who cost €3,500 as a yearling, but the pedigree doesn't stand out on paper and this yard isn't renowned for success with its two-year-olds.

Form:

(9)

Vicky Cristina⁴¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: W J Lee| T: W McCreery

9/2

Not beaten far on debut at Navan despite finishing ninth, and did much of her best work in the latter stages that day. Needs to improve, but that's perfectly possible.

Form: 9

Forecasts

Monkeylou (5/4), Vicky Cristina (9/2), Natty Dresser (11/2), Ballot Box (8/1), Drombeg Dream (10/1), Dowhatisay (12/1), Dream Of Words (16/1), Vocal Music (20/1), Rhythm Of Love (33/1), Shecanrally (33/1), Shandon (66/1), Donors Green (66/1)

With so many newcomers taking their chance here, it goes without saying that the market will be crucial in deciding who is fancied to go close. However, based on what's down on paper alone the choice is DREAM OF WORDS. Jim Bolger tends to do well with his juveniles, and this daughter of Dream Ahead has the pedigree to show the natural speed early on in her career to win a maiden of this nature on debut. Of those who have run previously, Dowhatisay appeals most, while Rhythm Of Love is another who could improve from her first start.