John Oxx yesterday gave an upbeat bulletin on Sinndar who will be the Curragh trainer's first runner in the Epsom Derby.
Holding Court's devastating victory at Chantilly had a minimal effect on the Epsom market with Paddy Power still making King's Best and Beat Hollow 7 to 2 joint favourites with Sinndar on 9 to 1.
Oxx saddled Hariya to justify favouritism by eight lengths in a maiden at Naas yesterday and was taking the positives from yesterday's French action which saw the second and third to Sinndar in the Derrinstown Derby Trial, Bach and Muakaad, both beaten.
"I understand Bach was well beaten in the Jean Prat but it was soft ground and at least he had some decent horses behind him," said Oxx who described Muakaad's last position in the French Derby as "irrelevant."
He added: "Muakaad just ran terribly and that isn't too relevant to what happened at Leopardstown. Sinndar is well and we've had a clear run which is what you always hope for at this stage."
If Sinndar is successful at Epsom, then he will hardly win as easily as Hariya did yesterday but at least Oxx and rider John Murtagh can dream.
Hariya landed the 11 to 8 odds with the minimum of fuss, taking up the running at the two furlong pole and drawing clear for an easy win from Diamonds Will Do.
The only hint of anxiety was Murtagh's limp when he dismounted which came from banging his foot off the stalls when the gates opened. "I'm sure he'll be kay for Saturday," Oxx grinned.
That grin was nothing compared to Edward Sexton's, however, after the Tom Queally ridden Celtic project overhauled Wilmore to take the 11-furlong handicap.
It was a second winner for Kildare-based Sexton who took out a full licence on April 20th and has six horses in training.
"The doors are open for more!" smiled Sexton who formerly trained under a permit and returned to Ireland eight years ago after spending six years working in the USA for the Breeders' Cup winning trainer Noel Hickey.
Manchester United scored again at Naas on Saturday when Aidan O'Brien's odds-on chance Red Coral carried the colours of their newly formed racing club to a comprehensive victory on her racecourse debut in the Mujadil EBF Maiden. Partnered by Michael Kinane, the daughter of Fairy King, who is leased to the Manchester United Racing Club by breeder Tim Hyde, swept to the front in the testing ground at the furlong pole to come home a length-and-a-half clear of Lady Of Kildare.
"She's a very good worker at home and she wants an ease in the ground," said Aidan O'Brien. "If there's an ease in the ground we'll take a look at Royal Ascot, maybe the Queen Mary."
Henry Ponsenby, racing manager to the club which has over 700 members, including 45 from Ireland, said: "That was our first runner and our first winner. We have five horses in training with trainers Aidan O'Brien, Barry Hills, Mick Channon, Mick Easterby and Ed Dunlop and we're looking for more members."
Dermot Weld also has the Royal meeting in mind for Hamdan Al Maktoum's Murawwi after the three-year-old colt scored with the minimum of fuss under Pat Smullen in the seven-furlong Naas Race. "Provided there's an ease in the ground the logical race for him may be the Jersey Stakes," said Weld.
Later in the day, champion Michael Kinane recorded his second winner of the afternoon when he teamed up with Bamford Castle, off the track for nearly 5 months, to defy topweight of 10st in the 1m 6f handicap.
