Navan victor Carmers heading for Queen's Vase

South Wales Guardian

17-05-2025

The Wootton Bassett colt won on debut just over a week ago, taking a Ballinrobe maiden by a length and a quarter with the rest of the field well strung out behind him and the runner-up.
He started as the 6-4 favourite under Billy Lee when stepping up to Listed level on his second start, tackling the same one-mile-five-furlong trip in a field of seven.
Again the bay showed his class, racing prominently throughout and easily shaking off all challengers to secure a three-length victory from Adrian Murray's What's Your Game.
Twomey said: 'I was very happy with the way he did it in Ballinrobe. He's a horse that just does what he has to do, hence the headgear (blinkers).
'I thought he would run a good race (in Ballinrobe) and I thought he would finish the race well. I thought he would be in the (first) three. He surprised me maybe just how well he won at the line, he won comfortably and Donagh (O'Connor) said he had to go down the back straight to pull him up.
'He came home, licked the pot, rode out this week, didn't care and I said to Billy 'I'm going to put him in the Yeats and see what happens'. As the week went on, it became clear that he was ready to go.
'We were keen today to get a lead, we knew we'd stay and ordinarily we might have jumped and made it, but he's a horse that I don't think would like to be in front too long.
'When he went to the front I was a little bit concerned but, to be fair to him, he picked up and rallied. He's keeping plenty for himself, I'd say there's plenty in him.
'He has ability but he is just like the trainer – he does what he has to do!
'I said it to the owner there, that race (Queen's Vase) in Royal Ascot is probably the right race for him. He's a stayer and he has enough experience to go to a race like that.
'I was thrilled when Fiona (Carmichael, owner) asked us to train the first for her a couple of years ago and she kindly sent me on this horse. She has been very patient with me. He trained very well all last year without being asked any question. He has trained well this spring and is two for two in eight days.'
Earlier on the card there were two notable winners for Aidan O'Brien, firstly in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over six furlongs.
Gstaad, a half-brother to Vandeek, was the horse who came home in front, striking by three-quarters of a length on debut to find himself entered into the Coventry Stakes market at 10-1 with Paddy Power.
O'Brien's other winner, and another horse throwing his hat in the ring for Royal Ascot, was the €2.2million purchase Seattle.
Winner of the five-furlong Navan Racecourse Maiden by a length and a quarter, the colt is now a 25-1 chance for the Commonwealth Cup with both Paddy Power and Betfair.