Caroline’s Sunday Selections for 18th May 2025

Caroline’s Sunday Selections from Naas & Cologne

Naas

Coolmore Stud The Antarctic Race 1.30
Charles Darwin
I can’t look any further than Aidan O’Brien’s Charles Darwin for this 5 furlong dash. It won’t be long before he’ll be picking up Black Type, especially if he repeats the form that saw him win from the front in impressive fashion at Navan last month, although the ground is going to be a lot quicker here. The costly two year old, Cardiff By The Sea is sired by St. Mark’s Basilica and out of Piece Of Paradise, so does look an interesting one first time out, while Joseph O’Brien’s Spring Is Here should come on for her first run and that completes my list. Charles Darwin to prove that survival of the fittest is the winning formula!

Owenstown Stud Stakes (Listed) 2.32
The Liffey
I’ll take a chance that The Liffey is ready to roll on his seasonal reappearance to score for Joseph O’Brien. Although just fifth last Spring in the Ballylinch Stud ‘Red Rocks’ Stakes, that was a Group 3 and this Listed contest looks plenty easier. After that race, The Liffey went on to win the Pat Smullen Race at Listowel, and that was on good ground, so conditions here should be just right. Mark Fahey’s Tina’s Indian is a Calyx colt, so should be speedy enough, while Adrian Murray’s Spicy Margarita is also considered, but The Liffey gets my vote.

Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Blackbeard Fillies Sprint Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) 4.03
Lady Iman (nap)
This is a cracker of a race, with the two Starman fillies, Lady Iman and Green Sense taking on the Ballydoyle pair of Simply Astounding and Signora. Notably, Simply Astounding has a course and distance win in the book, while Lady Iman has to show she can go the extra furlong, but there’s every chance she can, and a win here will to add to her growing reputation. British raider Saffron Dandy adds to the interest in this competitive race, but I’m sticking with Lady Iman, who I think looks a bit special.

Goffs Lacken Stakes (Group 3) 4.33
Babouche
The race of the day for me, and although there’s going to be plenty of money down for Whistlejacket, I’m going to buck the trend and side with Babouche. There’s history between these two, with Babouche holding the Ace having landed the Phoenix Stakes at The Curragh last August, though Whistlejacket’s win in the Prix Morny is also a standout piece of form. I do think that the clue to this puzzle is the ground, it did look last year that Whistlejacket put in his best on ground with a bit of cut in it, while Babouche has solid form on faster going, and that’s the factor making my choice. A great race to look forward to, bit it’s Babouche that does it for me.

Sole Power Sprint Stakes (Listed) 5.03
Bucanero Fuerte (nb)
Another cracker on Naas’s sparkling Sunday card, and it’s Bucanero Fuerte that I think is going to take this. That said, if this ground stays fast, you’ll have to take a long look at Ger Lyons Magnum Force, who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on fast ground to finish last season. If conditions stay the same, Colin Keane won’t be knocking the dust off Magnum Force to be going close here, but Bucanero Fuerte is also a Group One winner from last year, and does go well fresh. With veteran Big Gossey in the line-up, and Andrew Slattery’s Powerful Nation not discounted, it’s a real thriller, but Bucanero Fuerte is my pick.

Cologne

Coolmore City Of Troy German 2,000 Guineas (Group 2) (Colts & Fillies) 3.33
Vertical Blue
Hollie Doyle and Archie Watson have gone to plunder a nice prize over in Cologne on Sunday with Eternal Elixir, where the German 2,000 Guineas is the feature. However, they have some competition for this from French raider, Francis-Henri Graffard’s Vertical Blue, who was good enough last season to see off Zaragana in the Prix Marcel-Boussac at ParisLongchamp last October. That form looks very good now that Zaragana went on to win the French 1,000 Guineas last Sunday, though she actually finished second but was given the race through interference. Eternal Elixir does have the benefit of a run in his legs this season, but has to give weight to Vertical Blue, and that, to me, looks a big ask. Vertical Blue to go in.