Yaxeni (centre) © Photo Healy Racing
Away from the lucrative Irish EBF Auction Series Race Final, the Garnet Stakes over a mile and the Bluebell Stakes over 1m4f are two long-established stakes races for fillies and mares on today‘s card at Naas.
Ger Lyons’ Yaxeni runs in the latter contest and proved her effectiveness at the track when landing last year’s Naas November Handicap over two miles.
A four-time winner in all, the daughter of Maxios has had a productive season with Listed victories at Gowran and Galway.
Assistant trainer Shane Lyons said of the five-year-old mare: "If the rains come, the better chance she has.
"She has such a heart, she has a heart bigger than any horse in training and an absolute lady.
"It will more than likely be her swansong but if it rains, more to her advantage. All she does is grind and grind. There is plenty of rain due on Sunday."
Racing concludes with a six-furlong handicap where Fastar bids to enhance his good record over the course and distance. Ger O’Leary’s eight-year-old, who returned to form in first-time blinkers when third at Navan recently, won at the opening meeting of the season here two years ago and was placed on both return visits last term.
From a stable that has hit form in recent weeks, Fastar will be partnered by Seamie Heffernan.
After saddling Cursory Exam to win at Dundalk on Friday, assistant trainer Adrian Joyce remarked: "Fastar is a good old servant. He came back to some sort of form the last day and we would be hoping that he would show up well.”
"There is plenty of rain forecast on Saturday and Sunday, and he will love that."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
