Panama Red

Panama Red ran better in the Guineas trial at Leopardstown last Sunday than her finishing position suggests. Sharply away from stall two but allowed drift back in the field early, she travelled well through her race for Colin Keane, and she picked up well on the inside in the home straight when her rider gave her a squeeze. She struggled for racing room though on the run to the furlong pole. Switched to her right, she did find a gap just inside the furlong marker, and she picked up nicely before keeping on well to finish fifth.

It is probable that Ger Lyons’ horse would have finished closer if she hadn’t been checked in her run when her rider wanted to go forward. Even so, she was only beaten just over two lengths by the winner History, and she was beaten a nose and a head for third, a position she probably would have nabbed in another couple of strides. She was a progressive filly last season as a juvenile, she beat Sunday’s winner History when she won her maiden at Tipperary in August, and she was very good in winning the Listed Ingabelle Stakes at Leopardstown on Irish Champions’ Weekend last September, when she beat Limiti Di Greccio by a half a length. She is an interesting filly for the season ahead, and she could be an interesting outsider in the Irish 1000 Guineas if she takes her chance in that.
Leopardstown, 8^th May 2022