Real Appeal winning under lights at Dundalk© Photo Healy Racing
Ado McGuinness is considering a step up in trip for Real Appeal with the nine-furlong Group 3 Meld Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday a likely next target.
The Sidestep gelding, a three-time winner for Jessica Harrington including the Group 2 Clipper Logistics Boomerang Mile at Leopardstown, has won twice for current connections on the all-weather at Dundalk but has never run beyond a mile.
"I'm scratching my head if he will stay the mile and a furlong, but I think he will if he is ridden properly. He just doesn't like hitting the front too soon no matter if it is a mile or seven,” said McGuinness.
The seven-year-old was just denied over a mile in the Group 3 Porsche In Support Of Breast Cancer Ireland Amethyst Stakes on his penultimate start at Leopardstown and the Lusk trainer added: "We probably will go for the Meld, we are sort of limited bar we travel. I have him in a race in Dusseldorf in August as well.
"He needs fast ground and if he hasn't got fast ground he is in trouble.
"If he can't win a Listed or a Group race, we will look at the likes of the Sovereign Path Handicap (at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend). A good pot and usually if you drop those Group horses into those races, they are fairly competitive."
The 19 entries for the Meld Stakes include course and distance winner Tarawa, Diego Velazquez, Lord Massusus plus possible UK raiders Cairo and Certain Lad.
Quotes by Michael Graham
