Brazilian Bride continues on up

The Swordlestown Stud Sprint Stakes has thrown up Group One winners Rumplestiltskin and Damson in recent years and after an impressive display at Naas yesterday it wouldn't be the greatest surprise to see Brazilian Bride reach similar heights.

The Kevin Prendergast-trained filly maintained her unbeaten record in the Group Three race when beating Gee Kel by two lengths with the English raider Amber Valley only third.

For a daughter of Pivotal, Brazilian Bride handled the fast going remarkably well but afterwards the definite plan was to bypass Royal Ascot and wait instead for the Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes.

"Seven furlongs won't be a problem and the Heinz followed by the Moyglare looks the job," said Prendergast.

Significantly she impressed Amber Valley's rider Neil Callan who said: "Mine ran well but the winner is very good."

If Brazilian Bride is still all about potential, Osterhase's winning display in the Listed Sprint was all about an old reliable proving himself still one of the best speedsters in the country.

It took Fran Berry's mount less than a minute to burn off his rivals, including the other joint-favourite Moon Unit, and repeat his 2004 success in the race. It was also two years ago that Osterhase doubled up in the King Of Beers Stakes over the Derby weekend and Berry is confident a repeat is on.

"He was never quite right last year but he worked well the other day and we knew he was back to his best," said the jockey. "He always comes good in June with the sun on his back."

Moon Unit, who is in foal to Rock Of Gibraltar, was a length and a half back in second and has possibly run her last race.

The inconsistent form shown by some of the David Wachman string continued with a poor effort by the favourite Paris Winds in the 10-furlong maiden and later a good win for Absolutelyfabulous in the sprint handicap.

An Tadh made all the running to win the seven-furlong conditions race under John Murtagh and provide Ger Lyons with his 10th winner of the season.

Jockey Derek McCormack was taken to hospital with a suspected shoulder injury after being unseated in the race. Michael Kinane was also unseated but escaped unscathed. He did, however, give up his ride in the last where the favourite, Zacharova, won his third race in eight days under jockey David Moran.