Sunday 4 June 2017 18:32, UK
Gordon Elliott has another good juvenile prospect on his hands judging by Monkeylou's successful debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden at Listowel.
Elliott, who also has Royal Ascot possible Beckford in his care, booked Pat Smullen for the ride and he unleashed the 5-4 favourite a furlong out before strolling two and three-quarter lengths clear of Drombeg Dream.
Smullen said: "He is a lovely horse and the boys were all very confident beforehand and his home work was good.
"It is a bit of an ask to win first time around Listowel and even on the turn he showed inexperience when I had to sit and get organised.
"To be fair, he hit the furlong pole really strong and his last furlong was his strongest; he is a horse with plenty of ability.
"He is a beautiful, good looking horse and has plenty physical strength to him and is mature, but that said, it takes a decent horse to win first time around Listowel."
Smullen followed up Orangey Red (7-1) in the Follow Listowel Races On Facebook Handicap.
Bill Farrell's filly picked up well in the final furlong to collar Geographical and Patuano, and came home three-quarters of a length to the good over the latter.
Smullen said: "She is a nice filly we know from (breeders) Moyglare and is always capable of winning something like that.
"Everything was perfect for her today with the small field and the ground is beautiful and the track is actually in tremendous nick. She really appreciated that and while my initial plan was to take my time completely, after going half a furlong I realised we weren't going as quick as I'd hoped so moved up.
"I got the gap when we needed it and it all worked out perfect."
A Little Bit Me (11-2) has been campaigned over sprint distances this year but she saw out the seven furlongs in the George Fitzmaurice Handicap really well to coast home by nine lengths from Comhghairdeas.
Winning trainer Fozzy Stack said: "We made use of a low draw and while she'll get a good hike for winning that, she's after winning twice now and probably enjoyed the step up in trip.
"She was a bit out on her head over five (furlongs) the last day and when she won at Cork she only got on top in the last furlong."
Adrian Keatley's Elusive Duchess sprang a 33-1 surprise to make a successful start to her career in the Croom House Stud Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.
Jim Bolger's New Terms was all the rage but the 8-11 favourite met interference at a vital stage and could not get competitive afterwards.
In contrast, Gary Carroll kept Elusive Duchess out of trouble on the outside and she quickened smartly to hit the front over a furlong out before careering away to account for Vienna Circle by three lengths.
Keatley said: "She seemed to be doing that on that gallops so we were expecting her to run well, but of course it was a bit of a surprise.
"She is smart though and will be nicer next year, hopefully there is a good prize in her some day."
Godolphin may have been out of luck with New Terms but got on the scoresheet when Michael Halford's 7-4 favourite Moritzburg ran away with the www.listowelraces.ie (C & G) Maiden.
Halford said: "He was entitled to do it off his form, his rating and the experience had. We kept it simple.
"He is a big, scopey horse and benefited from the run the last day and it was probably no more than he deserved to do today.
"He was Listed-placed as a two-year-old and we thought plenty of him, but he had a few little issues and seems to have them behind him now. That will do an awful lot for his confidence and we'll see what the handicapper does now."
Tirmizi has not hit the heights once expected of him but there is still time and he boosted his confidence with a bloodless victory in the Bryan MacMahon (Q.R.) Race.
Finny Maguire made his own running on Dermot Weld's 1-6 favourite who sauntered away from Jack Blue with the minimum of fuss.
