Bitter blow for Michael Grassick after 'special' filly is sold to rival yard

Curragh trainer Michael Grassick has described the sale of Classic hope Small Oasis from his yard as "tough to take" after the highly impressive juvenile winner left to join Jessica Harrington.

The John Nolan-owned filly, a daughter of Sioux Nation who went unsold at 2,500gns as a yearling, would have been worth many multiples of that sum after winning a Curragh maiden last month by four and three-quarter lengths, a performance Grassick said was "special".

Small Oasis was entered for the Irish 1,000 Guineas before that win and finished a promising third to Midnight Mile in the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket on Friday, when tackling quicker ground than ideal.

However, Grassick revealed a deal had been struck for the filly to join Harrington, tweeting a picture of his staff bidding farewell to the yard's top performer after returning from Newmarket.

"She arrived home safely from the UK but sadly we're saying goodbye as she has been sold," said Grassick.

"It's very tough for all who put so much hard work and care into producing a top-class filly to now lose our chance to take her further."

He added: "She'll be trained by Jessica Harrington for new connections. It's tough to take but we'll have to try to find the next one now."

Grassick, who was among the winners at the Curragh on Saturday with handicapper Loingseoir, believes an improved version of Small Oasis will be seen when she runs on her favoured soft ground.

"She ran a great race at Newmarket but the [good] ground was just too quick for her," said Grassick.

"David [Nolan, rider] said she got lost coming down the hill and that the ground felt very quick; she changed her legs three or four times. She needs a bit of juice in it, but she'll be very good next year when she gets soft ground."

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