Skip to content

Racecards

15:30 Naas (IRE)

Gladness Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1)

  • 5 Runners
  • Distance: 7f
  • Going: Yielding (Soft in places on the round course)
  • Surface: Turf
  • €60,000 added
  • Winner: €35,400
  • 2nd: €11,400
  • 3rd: €5,400
  • 4th: €2,400
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 1m 30.05s
  • Off Time: 15:30:15
  • 5 Ran
Go to Full Result
1
Silk -

Diamond Fields (IRE)

9/2

    2
    Silk -

    Alice Springs (IRE)

    6/4

      1(2)
      Silk - Red, white maltese cross, red cap

      Gordon Lord Byron (IRE)

      16 BFD
      16/1
      • Form 686-992
      • Age 9
      • Weight 9-12
      • Official Rating 103

      chased leaders in 3rd, ridden in 3rd 2f out, soon dropped to 4th, no impression in last final furlong

      2(5)
      Silk - Dark Blue

      Alice Springs (IRE)

      155 D
      6/4
      • Form 318110-
      • Age 4
      • Weight 9-9
      • Official Rating 118

      chased leader in 2nd, pushed along 1 1/2f out, progress to lead inside final furlong, kept on same pace under hands and heels and headed close home

      3(3)
      Silk - Claret, gold braid, claret sleeves & cap

      Blue De Vega (GER)

      162 DCD
      2/1
      • Form 11/2372-
      • Age 4
      • Weight 9-7
      • Official Rating 105

      led, travelling well 2f out, ridden and strongly pressed 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra in 3rd close home

      4(1)
      Silk - Light green, black seams, striped cap

      Smash Williams (IRE)

      315
      13/2
      • Form 113/5-
      • Age 4
      • Weight 9-7
      • Official Rating 105

      chased leaders in 4th, ridden in last 2f out, no impression in moderate 4th final furlong

      5(4)
      Silk - Black, maroon star, striped cap

      Diamond Fields (IRE)

      204
      9/2
      • Form 242832-
      • Age 4
      • Weight 9-4
      • Official Rating 106

      held up in last, pushed along in 4th 2f out, soon ridden, went 3rd 1f out, stayed on well under pressure to lead close home

      In depth

      Verdict

      ALICE SPRINGS comfortably has the call on official ratings and looks another for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore. Already a triple Group 1 winner including the Sun Chariot, she should find this company well within her capabilities before heading to Newbury for the Lockinge Stakes. Smash Williams did well as a two-year-old, winning twice at the Curragh, but only had one run last season and has a long absence to overcome. Diamond Fields was in fine form throughout last season culminating in second spots in two Grade 2 events in the USA, though on very fast ground, while Blue De Vega only had two runs after finishing third in the Irish 2000 Guineas and there should be more to come. The veteran Gordon Lord Byron completed a double when landing a Group 2 at the Curragh in July though he didn't perform as expected at Meydan over the winter.

      Formwatch

      Gordon Lord Byron (IRE) 4-1cfav (10-3) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden and dropped to 6th over 1f out, under pressure and kept on well inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Sign of The Kodiac (9-10) at Dundalk 6f pol in Mar.

      Alice Springs (IRE) 4-1 (8-8) Saved ground to 1/4, 10th of 14, 4 3/4l behind Tourist (9-0) at Santa Anita 1m gd in Nov.

      Blue De Vega (GER) 9-2 (9-5) Prominent, challenged 2f out, soon led, headed inside final furlong and kept on without matching winner, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Sovereign Debt (9-7) at Leopardstown 7f lst stks (1) Yielding in Oct.

      Smash Williams (IRE) 11-4 (9-3) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 2f out, no impression over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 7, 6 1/4l behind Only Mine (9-0) at Naas 6f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in May.

      Diamond Fields (IRE) 17-2 (8-4) Tracked inside, ran on, 2nd of 6, 2 3/4l behind On Leave (8-4) at Belmont Park 1m 1f stks gd in Sep.