Mirza (inside) pictured on his way to victory at Cork in 2012© Photo Healy Racing
Rae Guest is hopeful veteran sprinter Mirza can bounce back to winning ways in the Midsummer Sprint at Naas.
It is getting on for two years since the 11-year-old last tasted victory, and six years since he won this Listed prize at its former home of Cork.
That triumph is one of three Mirza has secured in Listed company, while he also won at Group Three level twice in his prime.
Guest's stable stalwart has failed to beat a single rival home in either the Palace House at Newmarket or the Prix de Saint-Georges at Longchamp so far this season, but the Newmarket handler is confident his charge can prove he is no back number on Monday evening.
He said: "I know he’s finished last on both of his runs this year, but he wasn’t beaten far in either and they were both Group Threes.
"He's back in a Listed race at Naas, he seems in great form and hopefully he has a great chance."
Kevin Manning partners Mirza in the E45,000 feature in County Kildare.
"Kevin has never ridden for me before, but he’s a top jockey and it’s great to have him on board,” Guest added.
Mirza faces seven rivals over the five furlongs and must concede weight to each of them bar Fozzy Stack’s Son Of Rest
Aidan O’Brien’s Dali and Joseph O’Brien’s True Blue Moon are both winners over the course and distance. Brick By Brick Accalia Snowstar and Verhoyen complete the field.
The Willie McCreery-trained Lethal Promise sets the standard in the opening fillies’ maiden.
The daughter of Invincible Spirit finished second twice at the Curragh in May and must have every chance of making it third time lucky. Aspen Belle trained by Patrick Martin, has won and finished second at Naas and successive placed efforts at Sligo and Listowel suggest she is capable of winning from winning again from her current mark of 70.
She is probably the one to be on the fillies handicap.
After placing on three of his previous four starts, Michael O’Callaghan’s Captain Vancouver will not be winning out of turn if coming home in front in the seven-furlong maiden.
