Nighteyes returns to Naas

Nighteyes returns to Naas in bid to emulate her mother in the €100,000 Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF Ballyogan Stakes on Family Fun Day Naas Racecourse will stage the final Family Fun Day of the season this Sunday with an eight racecard for racegoers to enjoy.

Last month’s Naas winner Nighteyes will be hoping to emulate her dam by winning the feature Group 3 Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF Ballyogan Stakes.

The David O’Meara-trained three-year-old ran out a fine winner of the Listed Yeomanstown Stud Stakes at Naas last month and returns on Sunday to contest at Group 3 level for the first time and in doing so will bid to follow in the hooves of her dam, Penny Pepper, who won the 2017 renewal of the Ballyogan Stakes for Kevin Prendergast.

Sunday’s 12 runner field will present the biggest line-up since Penny Pepper’s triumph and Nighteyes will be ridden by Ireland’s champion jockey Colin Keane for the first time.

“I thought Nighteyes was a very impressive winner at Naas last month having encountered traffic problems early but winning quite well in the end,” trainer David O’Meara said.

“She has been in good form since then and I’d like to think she goes back to Naas with a chance on Sunday. She has been very consistent and deserves a go at this level.

“She is drawn in stall five which hopefully won’t inconvenience her and she should be grand on the ground so we are looking forward to sending her back over to Naas again.” Chris Hayes will partner the William Haggas-trained Pink Crystal, while the third British-trained runner is Pandora’s Gift for Stuart Williams.

Fozzy Stack has two runners in Sunday’s €100,000 feature contest with the 99-rated You Send Me joined by stable companion Shandy.

Shane Foley, who has won two of the last three renewals of the Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF Ballyogan Stakes will try to enhance his fine record in the race aboard the local representative Dance Night Andday, who was fourth behind Nighteyes in the Yeomanstown Stud Stakes for local owner Peter Jones and trainer Ross O’Sullivan.

The Paddy Twomey-trained course and distance winner Firebird goes in search of a hat-trick of wins this season, while Apricot Ice is also a two-time winner during this campaign and finished eighth in the Yeomanstown Stud Stakes last month.

Naas Racecouse brand ambassador Dylan Browne McMonagle will partner Navassa Island for trainer Michael O’Callaghan in Sunday’s feature and the line-up is completed by the Aidan O’Brien-trained Pearls And Rubies, course and distance winner Over The Blues for Pat Foley and the Johnny Murtagh-trained Wide With Delight.

Sunday’s action-packed card will see the Hartes Group Apprentice Handicap divided to provide an extra race and the opening Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden is due off at 1.22pm.

The ever popular Family Fun Days at Naas will come to an end for this summer with bouncy castles, face painting, a magic show and the onsite playground and creche to keep younger racegoers entertained. Family admission is just €25 for two adults with kids and further information can be found on naasracecourse.com Sunday’s fixture will is free to attend for all racehorse Owners with a valid AIR card as AIRO (Association of Irish Racehorse Owners) in conjunction with HRI Ownership will be hosting a free Syndicate/Racing Club Networking Day.

Before racing there will be an open panel discussion to provide a platform on how to get involved what the best practices are for successfully running a Syndicate/Racing Club, what the Raceday entitlements are for those groups and their responsibilities for the post racing careers of their horses. All racegoers are welcome into the marquee to attend the informative discussion and find out how they can get involved in racehorse ownership.