Curragh sprint mission possible for Iberian

Charlie Hills has his eye on a trip to Ireland next with Iberian, as the four-year-old continues his sprinting renaissance.

Encouraged by the son of Lope De Vega’s first two starts over six furlongs – including when denied in agonising fashion in Doncaster’s Cammidge Trophy last month – connections could now send Iberian to the Group Two Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh on May 24.

Hills said: “He’s got an entry in the 1895 Duke Of York Stakes (May 14) and also the Greenlands over in Ireland and I think I would be favouring the latter, as the Curragh will suit him well.”

The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, which Hills has won for the past two years with Khaadem, could also enter the equation later in the summer for Iberian, who strengthens the hand the Lambourn trainer possesses in the sprint ranks.

Hills added: “He fits in perfectly with our other sprinters and there’s a couple of options. Either York or the Curragh would be nice timing for him ahead of Royal Ascot and the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.

“It was a terrific run at Doncaster and we were delighted. He just lost his way coming to the furlong marker and I think he would gone pretty close had he not done that, but he’s learning his trade and it was just his second start over six furlongs and he looks an exciting horse for the sprint division.”