Evasive Power and Leigh Roche© Photo Healy Racing
The Michael O'Callaghan trained newcomer Evasive Power sprang a 22/1 surprise in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.
Bought as a yearling in Keeneland by Thomas Whitehead for just 4,000 US Dollars, the son of Elusive Quality raced in mid-division on the outer under Leigh Roche.
He was pushed along from the two furlong pole, and only really got going when ridden a furlong out, powering through to lead close home, prevailing by a neck. Silver Service (7s to 6s on-course) was the one denied, and he had to settle for the runner-up berth under Gary Carroll for Michael Mulvany.
The 4/6 favourite Coral Beach had no excuses a half a length back in third, with Donnacha O'Brien aboard this one for his father Aidan.
O'Callaghan said afterwards: "He's a lovely horse. We liked him at home and he showed plenty of speed but he was probably a gallop short for today, but said we'd run him because he's a green sort of horse.
"You could see there he was the first horse off the bridle but he kept responding and figured it out as he hit the rising ground.
"He's a proper fast ground horse and is going to improve from the run. He'll probably go to Ascot now. He might need another run but we'll see how he comes out of this.
On recent Curragh winner Recon Mission, O'Callaghan added: "Recon Mission came out of his win in the Curragh fierce well.
"I just thought the ground might be a bit fast for him tomorrow and too soon after his debut. It was only a week ago so we'll give him another week and go for the Marble Hill.
"Leigh said he took a fair bit of pulling up, and with the ground the way it was at the Curragh I don't see him having any problem getting six on better ground."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
