Co Tyrone based trainer Andy Oliver has Group 1 ambitions with his Elusive Award who made a winning debut, at 25/1, under Declan McDonogh in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Leopardstown this evening.

The son of Elusive Quality raced in mid-division before making progress in the straight, eventually getting his head in front close home for a half length win over Rio Command

Afterwards Oliver revealed “Elusive Award is entered in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy in October and he is a possibility for the race. He's a big, leggy type of horse and won't be lknocked around so early in his career.”

He added “I wasn't one bit surprised to see Elusive Award win but he wouldn't have liked the ground any faster and my two year olds rarely win first time out. However he is well bred (his half-brother Bronze Cannon won the Hardwick Stakes at Royal Ascot in June) but was a real bargain for E7,000, last November.”