Grogan has Sapphire Stakes in mind for Rapid Reaction

Rapid Reaction is likely to head for the Sapphire Stakes after her fine run when third in the Rockingham Handicap.

John Grogan’s filly has faced some tough tasks this season — but back in handicap company she excelled herself behind El Astronaute at the Curragh last week.

“She wasn’t settling in her races last year, so we started travelling with a pony,” said Grogan.

“The pony comes to the stables with her, and she doesn’t have too much time to think about things then. It relaxes her.

“She always showed (ability) at home — but going out last year she was just jumping from the stalls and going away like a rocket for three and a half furlongs, then cutting out.

“You can’t do that, and she is reserving her energy way better this year.

“She is a five-furlong filly, out and out. Andrew Slattery rides her now, because he gets on well with her. He is saying she needs good to firm, and the slow side of good is the best we have got for her this year.

“Andrew reckons that if she gets good, good to firm that she will be able to get placed in a Listed or Group race. The Shamardal’s seem to get better with age.

“We are keeping her for breeding and she has two wins to her name, but we hope we can get her placed in a Listed or Group race.”

The Tipperary trainer is still mapping out those likely plans, and ground conditions will determine her Sapphire Stakes target.

“There is very little there for her,” he said.

“We have her in the Group Two Sapphire Stakes, and that is the plan of attack at the minute. Hopefully we’ll get good, good to firm ground there.

“We only have one in training, and it’s great to have one like her that is there or thereabouts. Hopefully now before the end of the year we will get a bit of black type.

“We still have her half-sister Katla. She had an Awtaad colt last year and we sold him as a foal. She is in foal now again to Invincible Spirit. She was as honest as the day is long and very seldom ran a bad race.

“Rapid Reaction is the very same as Katla this year. We do all our work at Willie Browne’s — she would hack up the gallop the first time, but the second time she would know she’d have to work and she’d be gone. You can’t beat breeding at the end of the day.”