Sunchart, trained by Andrew Slattery, displayed incredible strength and determination to emerge as the victor in the prestigious Listed Devoy Stakes, the main race at Naas on Sunday. After finishing as a runner-up on two previous occasions, Sunchart, under the guidance of jockey Andrew Slattery Jnr, demonstrated impressive form throughout the race. With two furlongs remaining, the horse took the lead and left the competition behind, securing a commanding win by a margin of six and a half lengths. Sunchart showed a preference for the heavy ground, leading the connections to consider targeting the Ormonde Stakes at Chester in the future, provided the conditions are favourable.
Slattery expressed his admiration for the deserving horses and acknowledged the unwavering dedication of owner Pat Garvey to Sunchart. He stated that the horses deserved the victory more than anyone else and praised Pat Garvey for persevering with Sunchart. Slattery also highlighted Sunchart's talent, mentioning the horse's affinity for the track, preference for left-handed courses, and soft ground.
Reflecting on the challenges of finding suitable races for Sunchart, Slattery admitted that they may have occasionally aimed too high. However, he remained confident in the horse's abilities, noting Sunchart's second-place finish in the same race the previous year and a close call in the Trigo Stakes at Leopardstown. Slattery addressed doubts about Sunchart's form, clarifying that the horse had faced numerous problems but was not lacking in ability.
Slattery attributed the triumph to careful preparation and expressed satisfaction with Sunchart's physical condition on the race day. Looking ahead, he mentioned the limited availability of races suitable for Sunchart and emphasised the importance of ground conditions. Slattery hinted at the possibility of returning to Chester for the Ormonde Stakes, referring to Sunchart's commendable fourth-place finish in the same race last year.
In another notable performance from the Naas card, Purple Lily, trained by Paddy Twomey, claimed attention by comfortably winning the TRM Equine Nutrition Race. The three-year-old filly, sired by Calyx, had previously achieved success as a juvenile at Galway, establishing herself as a promising prospect for the stable. Twomey expressed cautious optimism about Purple Lily, mentioning the possibility of a Guineas trial and the Irish Guineas. He emphasised taking their time with her, highlighting her versatility, lovely attitude, and pleasant nature to train. Twomey expressed hope for a successful year with Purple Lily.