Report from Naas: Four Sins put herself into the Oaks picture with an impressive Group Three-winning display at Naas last night but whether that Oaks will be at Epsom is not certain.
"I'm not sure the hustle and bustle of Epsom will suit her so she might be more of a type for the Irish Oaks," trainer John Oxx said after the Aga Khan-owned filly put two and a half lengths between herself and Cherry Hinton at the end of the Blue Wind Stakes.
It was an impressive display on rain-softened ground that had the Oxx team biting their fingernails beforehand.
"We thought the ground had gone because she does like good to firm and that is turning into yielding. But she handled it well and it looks like she will probably go the extra quarter mile," Oxx remarked.
"She's a smart filly and I wouldn't say Epsom is definitely out. It's just that she looked to be suited by that galloping track. But you wouldn't know - we might get brave!" he added.
Four Sins was a 3 to 1 favourite but it was the unconsidered 33 to 1 outsider Pencil Hill who overturned the odds-on South Dakota to make a winning debut in the juvenile conditions race.
Trained by Tracey Collins for her mother Barbara, Pencil Hill overcame his inexperience to short-head the Ballydoyle favourite on the line. "We've always thought a lot of him, although we weren't expecting much today, and there should be a lot of improvement in him," said the trainer who added: "It's nice for the owner. Sometimes she can be difficult!"
The Group Three Swordlestown Stakes back here next month looks the next target for the Cathal Ryan-owned Raja who showed marked improvement from her Cork debut to comfortably land the opening maiden. "That first run made her grow up and she came on a lot from it," said Kevin Prendergast. "Since the owner sponsors it, I guess the Swordlestown will be next."
A step up to black type company is also on the cards for Contest who comfortably won the six-furlong handicap for Wayne Lordan and David Wachman.
"I was a little concerned about the rain but I did think he would do that," said Wachman. "We will step him up to Stakes company. Five or six furlongs will be fine and faster ground will suit him better."
Freda's Choice made possibly her final career start a winning one with a gallant success in the apprentice handicap under Sean Levey, just 24 hours after running in Killarney.
"She must be tough because she wasn't home until 1.0 last night," said trainer Pat Morris who added that Freda's Choice is in foal to Choisir.
Alexander Of Hales was a successful odds-on favourite when Seamus Heffernan's mount edged out Perfect Casting by a half length in the mile-and-a-quarter maiden and the Heffernan-Aidan O'Brien combination doubled up with Peeping Fawn who took the fillies maiden in easy fashion.
At Limerick this evening Regalline gets the chance to finally break her duck when she drops back in trip for the opening six furlong maiden.
Touted as a potential Group filly before her debut, she has run twice since at a mile but failed to finish out as expected after travelling well through both races.
This time a jump-and-go policy can pay off for the daughter of the Group One winner Rebelline.
Old Flame ran fourth at Killarney earlier in the week but has always looked better going right-handed and is worth another chance in the conditions hurdle.
