Sprinting targets for Arizona Blaze this year

Arizona Blaze’s connections are looking forward to a sprinting campaign this year with the Group 3 winning juvenile who was also placed at the highest level last term.

The son of Sergei Prokofiev won twice at the Curragh last season including the GAIN Marble Hill Stakes and was placed on a number of occasions including when third behind Babouche in the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes.

He held his form really well throughout the year and signed off when second to Magnum Force in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar.

“He's in great order. I think the plan is those Stakes races, the Committed in Navan and the Lacken in Naas and hopefully working towards Ascot - King's Stand, Commonwealth Cup,” said AMO Racing representative Ryan McElligott.

“He has an entry in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. I suppose you enter those horses in the Guineas because they reach a level of form, but I think sprinting is very much in our heads.”

Trainer Adrian Murray, who saddled a double at Dundalk on Friday with the AMO-owned pair Valiant Force and Persian Bliss, commented: "He's a great horse.

“He had a tough year last year from the first day until the Breeders' Cup and he never let us down. He was as good the last day as he was the first day.”

Additional reporting by Michael Graham