ACCREDITED - NAAS Racecourse - Photo: Daniel Méndez
Sunday, March 22 marked the opening day of the turf season at Naas Racecourse, launching a new chapter in Ireland’s flat racing calendar. Two of the eight races on the card were sponsored by Compas Stallions, owned by Michéal Orlandi, who—alongside his wife Síle Hayes—has been a consistent supporter of Naas year after year.
The two Compas Stallions-sponsored races featured three-year-old maidens, restricted to horses that had never raced or won before: the “Space Traveller At Compas Stallions Maiden” for colts and geldings, and the “Aesop’s Fables At Compas Stallions Maiden” for fillies. As an added incentive, the breeders of each winning horse were awarded a complimentary nomination to Compas Stallions sires Space Traveller and Aesop’s Fables, respectively.
The powerhouse partnership of trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore once again proved dominant, capturing both sponsored races with ACCREDITED (FR) and DROP DEAD GORGEOUS (IRE).
Accredited Delivers on Million-Euro Promise
The Space Traveller At Compas Stallions Maiden was taken by ACCREDITED (FR), racing for the powerful ownership group of Westerberg, Mrs. Magnier, Tabor, and Smith. This was a particularly notable victory, as the colt was purchased for €1,000,000 at the 2025 Arqana Breeze-Up Sale in France.
Sunday’s performance also marked Accredited’s first start on turf. Previously, he had been seen finishing fourth at Dundalk in October on a synthetic surface. This time, however, he showed marked improvement, winning comfortably by two and a half lengths over race favorite SINDAGAN (IRE).
Blue-Blooded Filly Impresses on Debut
In the fillies’ division, DROP DEAD GORGEOUS (IRE) lived up to her name with an eye-catching debut victory in the Aesop’s Fables At Compas Stallions Maiden. The filly boasts an exceptional pedigree, being a half-sister to stallion Gleneagles, sire of CALANDAGAN (IRE)—the world’s highest-rated horse in 2025 and a leading contender for the upcoming Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup night.
The well-bred filly delivered a polished performance, defeating fellow Gleneagles progeny FLEUR DE PROVENCE (IRE) by one and a quarter lengths.
What’s Next?
Future plans for ACCREDITED (FR) remain undecided, while DROP DEAD GORGEOUS (IRE) is expected to return to action on April 3 at The Curragh in a Group 3 contest—an early test that could confirm her status as a filly to follow this season.
Congratulations go out to the Coolmore connections, and special thanks to Michéal Orlandi of Compas Stallions—not only for sponsoring these races but also for providing tickets to members of the Spanish-speaking community from @Horseracing_es in Ireland, helping to grow the sport’s international reach.
Author: Josefina Posada for Agentes 305
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