Caroline’s Sunday Selections for 17th May 2026

Caroline’s Sunday Selections from Naas for Sunday 17th May

Royal Ascot Trials At Naas Rated Race 1.56
Port Ferdinand
Oh yes, this will be the most interesting opener, as Ryan Moore has elected to ride Shaftesbury Avenue, but I prefer Port Ferdinand. I cannot suppose that Wayne Lordan will be unhappy about getting the saddle on Port Ferdinand, who was beaten by a very good one in Joseph O’Brien’s Limestone at Cork the last day, just not seeing out the trip over 10 furlongs, so this drop back to the mile looks the right move to me. Johnny Murtagh’s Latin America could be the big threat, if this distance on better ground doesn’t catch him out for speed, while for me, Shaftesbury Avenue only has form with plenty of cut in it, so has something still to prove. Jack Davison’s New Radical also must be on my list, but it’s Port Ferdinand that makes the most appeal to me.

Coolmore Stud Blackbeard Race 2.56
Star Prospect
I thought there was plenty to like about Star Prospect’s debut under rules at The Curragh, so if this Starman colt can move on from that, he’s the one to follow. I’m expecting the Ballydoyle yard of Aidan O’Brien to be displaying some of his better chances at this meeting, as we move into mid season, so New Yorker has to be given close attention, and as the only runner for Aidan O’Brien under Ryan Moore, maybe we should be taking note. However, I do think that Robson Aguiar’s What A Girl Wants is the big danger, but I’ll stick with Star Prospect who is bred for this sprint trip.

Owenstown Stud Stakes (Listed) 3.56
Expanded
What a terrific race in store, but I’m telling yuzz that drawn out of Stall 2, Ryan Moore is winning this ahead of Karl Burke’s British raider, Native Warrior. That’s the theory anyway, based on the ground being maybe a bit on the quick side for Native Warrior, while Paddy Twomey has been in such super form, King Cuan must be on my list, with Johnny Murtagh’s Tashakour at least in with an outside chance. Okay, it has to be Aidan O’Brien’s Expanded that is winning this Listed contest, with Native Warrior keeping him up to his work.

Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes (Group 3) 4.26
Velozee (nb)
Oh yes, I’m in no doubt that this Group 3 Fillies Sprint is going to Paddy Twomey’s Velozee. She has been so impressive winning twice at The Curragh, and beating both What A Girl Wants and New Yorker in a Listed contest the last day, who both are on today’s card, and with the Athassel Yard flying high just now, this has to be one of my selected Sunday picks. Yes, I’m having no hesitation in backing Velozee for this Sprint Stakes, with Ballydoyle’s Victorious chasing her home.

Goffs Lacken Stakes (Group 3) 4.56
Charles Darwin (nap)
You might have caught on to Jaysella’s comment on what I think of Charles Darwin just a bit ago, and I’m not changing my mind in any way. I do think that Charles Darwin has that brilliant front end build of an out and out sprinter, and anything 6 furlongs or less on a fast track I reckon he’ll be very hard to beat, and so that is my undoubted choice for this Group 3. That said, Donnacha O’Brien’s Havana Anna is super speedy too, and cannot be underestimated, so I am looking forward to this contest, with Johnny Murtagh’s Royal Bay Cen also in the picture. Personally, I would love to see Charles Darwin win the King Charles Stakes at Royal Ascot next month, and this is the perfect warm up.

Sole Power Sprint Stakes (Listed) 5.26
Lady Iman
You’ll all be knowing well how much I hold Ger Lyons filly Lady Iman in the highest regard, and to my mind, fresh out for this season, she’s winning this. It’s going to be a bit of a blast, this Sole Power Sprint, and I’m telling yuzz, this Starman filly is just all about speed over this trip, Of course, I won’t see her in the flesh until Sunday here at Naas, and I do know that there’s plenty of excitement about Aidan O’Brien’s Mission Central, who I will tell you was fairly impressive in the Woodlands Stakes here the last day, but I do know how Lady Iman goes out well fresh, so with Mission Central way out on on the wings on the Stands side, and Lady Iman right across the course in Stall 1, I’m taking a risk but have to go with my gut. Lady Iman it is I hope, with Mission Central the one to watch, as this pair search out the quicker ground from opposite sides of the draw.