Darwin entered at Naas for Aidan O'Brien - 'He looks a real good horse does Charles Darwin' Charles Darwin heads a whole host of huge names who could be destined for Naas on Sunday as the track plays host to Royal Ascot Trials and Family Fun Day, which will be shown live on terrestrial television on both ITV and TG4. It was on the same day last year that Charles Darwin displayed blistering speed to land what is now the Coolmore Stud Blackbeard Race over the minimum trip and he went on to be one of the most impressive winners at Royal Ascot when scooting away with the Norfolk Stakes. Twelve months on and the Commonwealth Cup is Charles Darwin’s ultimate aim, a Group 1 for which he is 4-1 favourite with Paddy Power. The speedy son of No Nay Never will warm up for that race in Sunday's Group 3 Goffs Lacken Stakes. Aidan O'Brien said: “He looks a real good horse does Charles Darwin. It will be interesting to see how he jumps up from Navan and he could jump up a lot. He goes back to Naas on Sunday for the three-year-old sprint so that will be very interesting to see how he gets on.” Charles Darwin has won his last four starts in stunning style and he already boasts a rating of 110. He is one of three Ballydoyle-based entries in the Lacken Stakes as Albert Einstein and Brussels are both in the race, as well. Promising Two-Year-Olds Set For High-Stakes Duel Great Barrier Reef was instantly installed as favourite for the Coventry Stakes following his breathtaking debut success at the Curragh and he is set to put his unbeaten record on the line in the Coolmore Stud Blackbeard Race, where a showdown with fellow impressive Curragh maiden winner Star Prospect from the Joseph O'Brien stable could be on the cards. The Group 3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes has been won by some real stars over the last decade - including Alpha Centauri (2017), Porta Fortuna (2023) and Fairy Godmother (2024) - and this year’s race looks red-hot as course maiden winner Victorious bids to make it two from two for the Coolmore camp. She is already 7-2 favourite for the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot. Paddy Twomey has been in terrific form of late with nine winners in May and Velozee, who has won both her starts to date, features among the ten entries for the Group 3. Twomey said of Velozee: "The emergence of Sioux Nation filly Velozee has been a real highlight of the early season, and she looks set to provide plenty more thrills for the newly formed partnership of Gary Matthews and Steve Weston. "A winner on debut at Cork, she took a significant step forward when producing a hugely impressive performance to land the First Flier Stakes at the Curragh. Carrying the Steve Weston silks, she travelled powerfully throughout before putting the race to bed with ease. Stepping up to six furlongs won’t be an issue and a trip to Naas next weekend could be next on the agenda before attention turns towards Royal Ascot." Another notable entry in the race is Vollering from Archie Watson’s Lambourn stable, who made such a big impression when winning decisively on her sole racecourse appearance at Redcar last month. International Raiders Target Competitive Open Feature There is also British representation in the Listed Owenstown Stud Stakes, where Karl Burke has entered the progressive five-year-old, Native Warrior. The Wathnan-owned gelding won a pair of big handicaps at Ascot last season and could bid for a first stakes success on Sunday, although it’s a hot heat with no fewer than 18 entries which include the likes of King Cuan, Expanded, East Hampton and Rahmi. Lady Iman started last season with a bang and went off just 11-2 for the Nunthorpe at York in August. The second half of the season didn’t work out as well as the first but she could make her eagerly awaited comeback in the Listed Sole Power Sprint Stakes, where Aidan O’Brien is set to run the 110-rated Mission Central. He made a winning return over course and distance in the Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Woodlands Stakes last month and has won four of his seven starts. Historical Success Highlights Royal Meeting Clues Royal Ascot Trials Day has been the source of so many subsequent winners at the royal meeting in June in recent years. Last year it was Charles Darwin who did the double; in 2024, Fairy Godmother won the Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes before somehow winning the Albany Stakes from an impossible position; while in 2023 we saw future Coventry Stakes winner River Tiber and Albany Stakes heroine Porta Fortuna warm up for their big royal engagements by winning on this very card at Naas. The superb eight-race card at Naas on Sunday kicks off at 1.56pm and the Royal Ascot clues are sure to come thick and fast throughout the day. Away from the track, Sunday also marks the annual Family Fun Day at Naas Racecourse, with plenty of free entertainment for children throughout the afternoon. Activities include face painting, bouncy castles, a magician, meet the racehorse, and much more, making it a fantastic day out for all the family. Family admission tickets are available for just €25 (2 adults plus children) when booked online at naasracecourse.com up until midnight the night before racing.
