Firey Speech

Firey Speech put up a good performance to win the six-furlong maiden at Naas last Sunday.

Well away from stall one on the far rail, the Moyglare Stud’s colt was settled towards the rear of the field by Pat Smullen through the early stages of the race. Squeezed along on the run to the two-furlong pole, the Street Cry colt made ground among horses and, switched to the far side on the run to the furlong pole, he picked up nicely. Sportsmanship had gone for home in the centre at that point, and it looked as if Aidan O’Brien’s colt would prevail, but Firey Speech dug deep on the far side, joined the leader with 200 yards to run and forged into the lead against the far rail, increasing his lead gradually as they ran to the winning line and getting home by an ever-increasing half a length in the end from Sportsmanship, with True Valour finishing well on the near wide to get to within a head of the runner-up.

There was a lot to like about this performance from the Dermot Weld-trained colt. He came from the rear in a race in which the second and third both raced prominently, he picked up well, he stayed on willingly, and he clocked a decent time, the second fastest time among the four six-furlong races run on the day, and the second fastest comparative time of the day. Also, this was just his second run, he was well beaten in a maiden at Gowran Park on soft ground on his debut in June, so he should progress again for it. He has a really willing attitude, which will stand to him as he goes through the ranks, and, out of a mare who won over a mile and from the family of a winner over 12 furlongs, he should progress again as he steps up in trip.

3^rd July 2016