Morpheus double-handed to get off the mark in Naas maiden

Two more first-season sires could get their second careers off the mark at Naas on Sunday in the first two-year-old race of 2018 in Ireland.

Tally-Ho Stud's latest prospect Morpheus, a half-brother to the great Frankel, is duly represented by two members of his first crop in Deep House and Joza - both of whom were bred by the County Westmeath operation.

Deep House is out of the winning Soviet Star mare Red Trance and was purchased by his trainer Robbie McNamara for just €16,000 at last year's Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale.

Meanwhile, Joza is out of the winning Dubai Destination mare Dubai Princess who is herself a half-sister to the dam of Group 3 heroine and Group 2 scorer Swiss Spirit - who was represented by his first crop of juveniles last year.

Completing the trio of first-season sire representatives is Merida, a daughter of Rathasker Stud's Gregorian - who stands at the National Stud. The first foal out of the placed Sixties Icon mare Alpha Spirit and was purchased for 800gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale in 2016 by SJ Leahy Bloodstock.

Another interesting footnote to this contest is that for the second year in the row, Old Meadow Stud resident Tough As Nails has another chance for one of his progeny to make amends for his demotion by the stewards in the first two-year-old race in 2011.

Last year My Silver Nails flew the flag as a member of his first crop and now the Peter Mooney-trained Meryems Way, from his second crop, will bid to go better than the fourth-placed finish My Silver Nails had behind Moonlight Bay last year.