Galleria Borghese made a winning start at Stakes level today as the Aidan O'Brien trained filly landed the featured Listed Al Shira'aa Racing EBF Naas Oaks Trial at Naas.

The Ann Marie O'Brien-bred daughter of Caravaggio had finished second in a conditions' race at Limerick on Friday and today, backed from 20/1 to 12s, made most of the running under jockey Wayne Lordan, and held Alizarine by half a length.

Lordan, who had won the earlier race on the Willie Browne trained De Velara, later said “she’s been coming forward all year, improving from run to run. Her last run in Limerick was a good step forward and she made the step up again today.”

He added “she has been strengthening up all year and we felt it was time to step up to a mile and a quarter and she got it well.

“She tries hard, is improving and getting strong. I’m sure the boss (O'Brien) will be happy as they bred her as well.”

Quotes from Alan Magee