Rehana returns to the scene of her Athasi Stakes victory in the spring when she lines up in Wednesday evening’s Listed feature at Naas.
However the Aga Khan’s filly is only the joint top-rated performer on show as Panama Hat makes his own intriguing return to action in the finale.
The six year old is topweight for Tuesday’s Colm Quinn BMW Mile at Galway and makes a welcome first start since winning the Group Three Diamond Stakes at Dundalk in October of 2015.
Panama Hat had been a stalwart of Andy Oliver’s team prior to that, scoring five-in-a-row in 2014 and rising from 60 to 108 in official ratings in the process.
He can also boast a Stakes success and a fine second to Fascinating Rock over ‘Champions Weekend’ in 2015.
His best is over further than Wednesday evening’ s mile while one of his rivals, Psychedelic Rock is upped to the trip for the first time. Reckless Gold could be an alternative to both.
Rehana would be an appropriate winner of a Listed race with her sire, Dark Angel, featuring in the title.
Nothing went right for her in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and she missed the recent Brownstown Stakes when found to be in season.
“We’ve had a clear run with her since and this was the obvious next target. We’re coming back to six furlongs but we think she’s got plenty of pace,” Halford said.
Aidan O’Brien runs half a dozen of the 13 runners in the feature and will also be a player in the opening maiden with Mount Wellington.
Pincheck ran only on Saturday behind Insayshable and Aneen in a conditions event but should find the company in the mile handicap a lot easier to handle.
