IT was an interesting move to give Warnie his debut on the big stage at Royal Ascot and he takes a drop in grade at Bellewstown this afternoon.
The son of Highland Reel went to post a 40/1 shot in the Chesham Stakes first time out and was far from disgraced when finishing mid-division in the Listed contest.
Joseph O’Brien’s charge was a touch keen then but wasn’t beaten far behind Snellen when ninth in the seven-furlong race.
Obviously he faces an easier task in today’s median sires series maiden and has a nice weight in a race where it is based on the stallion’s sales record.
He cost €65,000 at the breeze-ups in early May and was obviously showing a bit when connections opted to throw him in at the deep end first time.
With natural improvement he could prove the one to beat in this grade.
State’s Evidence looks an obvious danger having been a promising third in a maiden at Down Royal a fortnight ago.
The Expert Eye colt had plenty to do crossing the road that day but flashed home in the closing stages to grab third at the post.
Going a bit further now should bring improvement and he can turn the tables now on Harry The Rogue, who was runner-up then on his second racecourse outing.
In the sprint maiden on the card, Jacks Gold looks the pick after a nice run on his debut at Cork.
The Kieran Cotter-trained gelding chased home a good yardstick in Son Of Sampers then over the minimum trip.
He is entitled to come on a bit from that outing and this looks like a winnable opportunity now.
Oisin McSweeney takes a valuable 5lb off his back again.
The other maiden on the card comes over a mile-and-a-half and the 88-rated Esquiline sets a good standard in the race.
Johnny Murtagh’s charge has run well on both starts this season to finish runner-up and went down by just a head to a decent sort in St Vincents Garden at Fairyhouse last time.
The winner wasn’t disgraced in Group Two company at Royal Ascot subsequently.
Aidan O’Brien won this race last year with a smart sort in Perotan and his newcomer Erato is one to note in the market.
The daughter of Galileo is a full-sister to five winners including Bondi Beach, who was narrowly denied in the St Leger a few years ago and also won two Group Three contests.
GARY CARSON'S BELLEWSTOWN SELECTIONS FOR FRIDAY
(next best in brackets)
4.10 Zero Fighter (Texas Sun)
4.45 Warnie (nap) (State's Evidence)
5.20 Fastman (Breezy Zoff)
5.55 Jacks Gold (Beaumadier)
6.30 Sosallycanwait (Teddy Boy)
7.05 Esquiline (Erato)
7.40 Duleek Street (Cleopatra's Needle)
8.15 Tara Power (Darkened)
