Confucius says Ascot is next In contrast to stablemate Carry The Flag who scraped home at odds of 3/10 in the opening juvenile maiden, Confucius had little difficulty in justifying an even shorter price in the Matchbook El Classico #100 Moneyback Special Irish EBF Maiden at Naas. Having just failed to get up close home on his Curragh debut over five furlongs, the Now Nay Never colt made all over an extra furlong here to post a three and three-quarter lengths victory over Alaskan Dream. Wayne Lordan was on board the 1/5 chance for the Coolmore partners and Aidan O'Brien. Stable representative Chris Armstrong stated "He obviously had a lovely run the first day and Ryan (Moore) liked him. Wayne loved him there. He said he has a very good temperament and when he asked him, he really stretched out and the most impressive part was going out through the line.  "Wayne says that in time he'll have no problem going up again in trip but he's had the two runs now and he looks a ready made Ascot two-year-old. I'd say he's probably one for the Coventry now and he's a horse to look forward to for the season ahead." t Additional reporting by John O'Riordan
