Oxx hoping Nice can bounce back when conditions ease John Oxx feels softer ground towards the end of the season could bring about a revival in the fortunes of Naughty Or Nice. The four-year-old filly has yet to fulfil the promise she showed early last season when she won her first two races, after which she was highly-tried in the Ribblesdale Stakes and the Irish Oaks. However, she ran creditably last time when third in the Group Three Stanerra Stakes at Leopardstown and may line-up for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Give Thanks Stakes at Cork on Saturday. "She's a possible runner. We just have to wait and see and make a decision on Friday," said Oxx. "It looks a hot race and a stronger one than the one she ran in last time when she was third. "She’s been in good form, but she has been struggling to just find the form she promised to show last year, but she ran well last time. We’ll see. "She’s not a definite runner and she does go on soft ground, so some of those races later in the year on softer ground would probably see her show her best form.” One horse Oxx will not saddle again is Waikuku as he has left the yard for the Far East. "He won well at Leopardstown, but he has since been sold to Hong Kong," said the Currabeg handler. The three-year-old colt, by Harbour Watch, got off the mark last month in a seven-furlong maiden which came 333 days after his only previous start.
