Brian Fleming looks back at the action last week and nominates his ‘Tracker Trio’ The irishracing.com tracker facility is something that has become a must-have tool for anyone serious about their punting. Having used the tracker since it was added a long time ago, I'm going to share some of the horses that have caught my eye over the previous week. The first meeting I'm focusing on is a rare flat card that took place at Punchestown on September 15 with a low-grade nursery at Naas on September 17 and a maiden at Gowran on September 19 also figuring. Cross Of Stars, trained by Joe Murphy and ridden by Gary Carroll, Punchestown Sept 15 Costing 220,000gns as a yearling at Tattersalls Book 2 last October I’m sure connections at the time would’ve been hoping her racecourse debut starting price wouldn’t have been as big as it was starting off. She has obviously taken time to come to hand given her belated debut and was easy to back at 28/1 facing 13 rivals over a mile on good ground. She got a nice introduction without posing any threat to the principals and can build on this pleasing performance. Held up towards the back of the field, this half-sister by Baaeed to several winners over further looked raw from the outset. What was encouraging though was when the penny dropped after been asked to close in the straight, she ran on in good style to finish sixth behind the Paddy Twomey-trained winner The Good Wife who herself cost €380,000 at the Goffs Orby sale last September. Cross Of Stars won’t mind an extra furlong or two based on this evidence and this initial experience should stand to her when she reappears. Docks, trained by Paul Flynn and ridden by Chris Hayes, Naas Sept 17 When they priced up this 0-70 nursery over five furlongs the night before this horse was put in as low as 5/1 by the odds compilers, despite having beaten just the one horse home in his three maidens at Leopardstown, Roscommon and Navan. Someone was taking no chances. Despite drifting on course to start at 11/1 he ran with credit off his initial handicap mark of 52, keeping on for second place down the nearside of the track when the far side looked to have the advantage on the day. This was the ideal stepping stone in handicap company and going up in trip will yield more improvement. The €22,000 yearling purchase has been upped 5lb to a mark of 57 but should still have his day in a similar grade before long. Mount Meru, trained by Joseph O’Brien and ridden by Joey Sheridan, Gowran Park Sept 19 Another promising juvenile off the Juddmonte conveyor belt, this half-brother to dual winner Starlight Lass (John & Thady Gosden) shaped well when runner-up on debut over a mile. The well-backed winner Albany County (Aidan O’Brien) had chased home subsequent Group 1 Golden Fleece winner Darkness Falls on his previous outing at the Curragh. Despite showing signs of greenness, the son of Baaeed still made the 8/15 Ballydoyle winner work hard in the closing stages and with this run behind him, he can go one place better next time.
