Philippe Coutinho out to score at Naas on Sunday as part-owner of 460,000gns buy

Aston Villa attacker Philippe Coutinho has a Premier League clash with Crystal Palace to focus on this Sunday but the Brazilian ace will also have one eye on racing at Naas, where his exciting 460,000gns joint-purchase Olivia Maralda makes her debut in Group 3 company.

Coutinho, who previously shone for Liverpool and is on loan at Villa from Barcelona, has joined forces with superagent Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing operation in owning the two-year-old filly by Kodiac.

Trainer Michael O'Callaghan has been pleased with Olivia Maralda's progress since joining his Curragh string and, should she hit the back of the net in Sunday's Group 3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes (2.45), dreams of a Royal Ascot bid next month will be well and truly alive.

Kia Joorabchian: major football agent has been enjoying big-race success through his Amo Racing operationCredit: Edward Whitaker

Coutinho, who was part of Bayern Munich's 2019-20 Champions League-winning side, was seen in attendance on day one of this year's Cheltenham Festival alongside Aston Villa teammates Tyrone Mings, Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez.

O'Callaghan said: "She's working well and we're very happy with her. She cost plenty of money but I think she's a decent filly.

"Philippe Coutinho owns half of her and they're trying to get the registration sorted in time so that his name appears on the racecard."

Classic winners Sky Lantern, Alpha Centauri and Mother Earth feature on the Group 3 event's roll of honour in the past decade and Olivia Miralda is one of 12 lined up for this year's €68,000 prize.

O'Callaghan added of the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale buy: "We'll see how she works during the week but I wouldn't be concerned about pitching her in at Group 3 level on her debut. I think she's going to end up at that level on her second start anyway, so I wouldn't be worried at all.

"If everything goes to plan, we'd be looking at taking her to Royal Ascot for the Albany Stakes."

Amo Racing have grown increasingly prominent in Ireland this year, with Raadobarg, trained by Johnny Murtagh, landing the Irish Lincolnshire on the opening day of the Flat season.

O'Callaghan has further interest on the Naas card, designated as Royal Ascot trials day, with his highly regarded sprinter Twilight Jet, who is set to appear for the first time this season in the Group 3 Goffs Lacken Stakes (3.45).

Michael O'Callaghan on Twilight Jet: 'He's working well and will improve for the run but we expect him to run well'Credit: Patrick McCann

Last year's Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes winner, who was last seen finishing tenth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, is being trained for a tilt at the Commonwealth Cup.

"He got a good break after the Breeders' Cup and it was always the plan to start him back here after that," said O'Callaghan.

"He's working well and will improve for the run but we expect him to run well. The plan after that, all going well, is that he'll go for the Commonwealth Cup. We're very happy with him. Naas is a nice place to start him off and Royal Ascot trials day is the appropriate day to do it, we hope."

O'Callaghan added: "He always had a bit of size and a good mind. He's matured a lot over the winter, both mentally and physically, and he's a fine belter of a horse now. His mind is very good and I expect it will be a long year for him, with Royal Ascot his first major target."

Sunday's Royal Ascot trials day card will be shown live on RTE1 in Ireland, as well as on Racing TV. Terrestrial coverage gets under way at 1.40pm.

Read these next:

Homeless Songs ruled out of French 1,000 Guineas as Weld plots Curragh bid

'Ryan will find it hard not to ride Stone Age' – Aidan O'Brien on his Derby team

Three things we learned when Aidan O'Brien opened his doors ahead of the Derby

Don't miss the Racing Post Royal Ascot Guide 2022. Only £14.99, the 192-page guide is packed with tips and information for the five-day festival of top-class Flat racing, including profiles of the leading horses and the lowdown on the top trainers and jockeys. Order your copy here or call 01933 304858.