Wachman rules out Ascot

David Wachman wasted no time ruling out a trip to Royal Ascot for the flying filly Damson after she kept her unbeaten record …

David Wachman wasted no time ruling out a trip to Royal Ascot for the flying filly Damson after she kept her unbeaten record in yesterday's Swordlestown Sprint Stakes at Naas.

Despite running two lengths clear of the favourite Pictavia, and travelling like the winner throughout, Damson will be given a break rather than heading for next week's prestigious festival.

"She did that well but I hope she won't be going to Ascot," said Wachman. "I want to try and give her a chance and maybe try and win a Group race later in the season."

The English challenger Umniya was a length and a half back in third and the cross-channel raider for the Naas Sprint, Benbaun, failed by the minimum margin to overhaul the favourite Osterhase.

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The pair dominated the Listed race after just a furlong and it was only in the last strides that Fran Berry forced the local horse's nose in front.

John Mulhern will run Osterhase next at the Curragh on Derby day.

Jim Bolger continued his good run with the Japanese bred Silver Silence who won the 10-furlong maiden on just his second start.

"He was a big, raw horse and very slow to learn but he seems to be finding his method now," said Bolger. This race started almost 20 minutes late after one of the runners, Angelico, ran loose and it took some time for her to be caught.

Solskjaer made all the running under Jamie Spencer to beat the Moyglare runner-up, Red Feather, in the four-runner conditions race. The winner, a half brother to Yeats, had only one other previous start when beaten around 10 lengths in the 2003 Irish 2,000 Guineas but looked far from inexperienced in beating the favourite by two and a half lengths.

Richard Quinn rode his 2,000th winner when partnering Whitsbury Cross to victory at Folkestone yesterday. The Scottish-born jockey got up close to home on the David Elsworth-trained 2 to 1 favourite to beat Maharaat by a short-head in the Come To Ladies Night On 5th August Median Auction Maiden Stakes.

Quinn (42) rode his first winner in 1981 on Bolivar Baby at Kempton for Paul Cole, with whom he started out as an apprentice.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column