Verhoyen and Gasta clash at the Curragh Verhoyen attempts to break his duck in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Median Auction Race at the Curragh. Michael Grassick's colt has shown plenty of promise in his three starts so far, not least in the hot maiden won here by Beckford and most recently when touched off in the Listed Rochestown Stakes at Naas. He locks horns with a filly of similar potential in the Jim Bolger-trained Gasta, who beat the more experienced Now You're Talking and the well-touted Clemmie on her introduction at the Guineas meeting. Johnny Murtagh's Too Familiar also struck on debut, and the field is completed by Early Call and Philadelphia Story. Pocketfullofdreams takes a massive drop in class for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. Aidan O'Brien's charge was employed as a pacemaker in last week's Investec Oaks at Epsom, having finished second in the Lingfield Oaks Trial previously, and it will be disappointing if she can't break through here. Seamie Heffernan was on board for O'Brien's first winning juvenile newcomer of the season at Leopardstown on Thursday, and he gets the leg-up on the choicely-bred Bond Street in the opening Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund (C & G) Maiden (2.25), with the son of Galileo joined by fellow Ballydoyle debutants Madrid and The Pentagon. There is a €50,000 prize fund up for grabs in the Junefest Handicap, and top-weight Son Of Rest has his sights lowered after struggling in the Tetrarch Stakes. Alfredo Arcano could be the one to beat because he finished ahead of the reopposing Miss Cogent, Mirdif, Callender and Red Sabor when fourth in a good course handicap last month. Ice Canyon brings the best form to the McDonnell's Bar Newbridge Supporting Junefest Maiden, while Neverushacon is one of a handful of useful jumpers reverting to the level for the Brady Burns Insurance Brokers Supporting Junefest Handicap. Modern Approach, Eagle Spirit and Sir Edwin Landseer all have their best days ahead of them and do battle in the Brady Burns Insurance Brokers Supporting Junefest Handicap.
