McCreery has high hopes this season for Vespertilio

Vespertilio is pencilled in for sprint targets in both Ireland and England after skipping the Minstrel Stakes at the weekend.

The filly was an intended runner in the Group Two at the Curragh on Sunday, but when the going description was changed to good to yielding trainer Willie McCreery opted to save her for more suitable ground.

The Phoenix Sprint Stakes is now on the agenda, over six furlongs at Group Three level at the Curragh, with the Sprint Cup at Haydock a longer-term aim later in the year.

“It was just that the ground changed and I thought that might take the sting out of her sprint,” McCreery said of Vespertilio’s withdrawal.

“We’d said we’d leave it as there are a couple of other races for her. She’s entered in the Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh, we could go for that, and then probably we’d have a look at the Haydock Sprint Cup.

“She’s come out this year a lot stronger and a lot more like a sprinter I think, hopefully I’m correct.

“We’ve got to give her another go at Group One level at one stage, I think sprinting is her game and I think she’s very, very fast.”

McCreery has another quality filly in Jancis, who is entered in the Valiant Stakes at Ascot on Saturday and will travel across to Berkshire if the going allows.

It is a step back to a mile for the chestnut, who was last seen finishing fifth in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh and prior to that was also fifth in the one-mile Lanwades Stud Stakes at the same track.

“She’s entered in the Valiant on Saturday at Ascot over the mile,” said McCreery.

“We’ll see what the ground is like for her, she needs quick ground so hopefully we’ll get it and we’ll be able to travel over for Saturday.

“I have been trying to stretch her out to a mile and two furlongs to give her more options, but I think a faster trip suits her better so we’ll go back to the mile now.”