Pose out to prove she is the boss for champion Colin Keane in Park Express

4.15 Naas
Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express Stakes (Group 3) | 1m | 3yo+ | ATR

Rivalry renewed. One of the most memorable finishes of the season at Naas in 2017 was in the Listed Garnet Stakes over this trip in October when the soon-to-be champion jockey Colin Keane somehow managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat on Elegant Pose, edging out Pat Smullen on Making Light by a short-head.

It was a snap-shot of the season and perfectly summed up a campaign where Keane could do no wrong.

Keane and Smullen are back to do battle again and so too are Elegant Pose and Making Light, the only two in the line-up with three-figure ratings.

Elegant Pose has only had four starts to date, winning three of them. The only occasion he encountered defeat was in a Listed contest at Gowran Park when third to Alluringly. Nothing to be ashamed of in that.

"She did very well last season and is one of the horses that I am most looking forward to this season. I like her," said Irish champion jockey Keane.

Making Light has a short-head to find with Elegant Pose from their joust in October but her trainer Dermot Weld has issued a word of caution to those fancying her to exact revenge, stressing that his stable on the Curragh was hit extremely hard by the adverse weather over the last month.

"All of mine are three weeks behind now," said Weld. The Curragh was hit so, so hard by the bad weather, as bad as anywhere, and we are now probably three weeks behind. Mine were very forward up until the atrocious weather set in.

"In saying that, Making Light is a nice filly who looks well and feels very well so I would be hoping that she will give a good account of herself."

Dermot Weld: had a word of warning for Making Light backersCredit: Patrick McCann

An overseas raider stole the spoils 12 months ago when Czabo scored and the David Loughnane-trained Star Quality is out to repeat the feat for the raiding party.

She is fit from some all-weather spins, which included a 7f success at Kempton in January, and wears cheek pieces for the first time so a third career success is not beyond the bounds of possibility.

"It’s a very tough race and we’re taking on some nice horses but she’s done nothing but improve since she came to us.

"The race at Wolverhampton last time wasn’t run to suit and she still wasn’t beaten that far by a good horse in Second Thought.

"There is a little question mark about the ground, but she deserves her place in the field and we’re going over quietly confident she can run a good race," said Loughnane.

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