Irish 2,000 Guineas hero Romanised out for perfect start in Gladness Stakes

4.00 Naas
Gladness Stakes (Group 3) | 3yo+ | 7f | RTV

Last year's Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Romanised has his first start of 2019 against eight rivals in a Group 3 named after Vincent O'Brien's star mare of the 1950s.

Romanised provided Curragh trainer Ken Condon with his biggest career success when landing the first Classic of the Irish season in 2018 at the Curragh at odds of 25-1.

Condon reports the colt about "90 per cent ready" for his comeback and added: "He has a Group 1 penalty and has to give weight to all his rivals, but he has been going well on the gallops and has done very well since last year.

"If all goes well at Naas he might head for the Lockinge Stakes, and then possibly the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot. The ground was too soft for him at Ascot on his final start last year – he needs good in the description."

Brivido makes debut for O'Brien

Le Brivido, who will be making his first appearance since joining Aidan O'Brien from Andre Fabre, is likely to be his biggest danger.

Beaten a head in the Poule d'Essai de Poulains in 2017, a year in which he landed the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, Le Brivido ran only once last season when sixth in the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket.

Le Brivido: winning the Jersey Stakes for former connectionsCredit: Edward Whitaker

O'Brien, who has twice won the Gladness with Giant's Causeway (2000) and Excelebration (2012), said: "We thought this would be a nice race in which to start Le Brivido's season. We'll see how things go. He could head for the Lockinge depending on how he runs and how he comes out of the race."

Imaging will appreciate the ground

Dermot Weld has made a flying start to the season and is represented by Imaging, who won the Listed Heritage Stakes over a mile at Leopardstown ten days ago.

Weld said: "We were delighted with Imaging at Leopardstown and we think he's improved since last season. This race looked the obvious next step, although it's coming quite soon. He seems well and will appreciate any ease."

Oisin Orr, who rode the Khalid Abdullah-owned four-year-old to victory at Leopardstown, is again in the saddle.

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