Pheonix Stakes entered Van Der Decken made a winning debut in the opening Elusive Pimpernel European Breeders Fund (C & G) Maiden at the Curragh today when landing a sizeale gamble on debut to secure a first juvenile winner for trainer Paddy Twomey.

Ridden by Wayne Lordan the son of Dutch Art raced prominently and in the end stayed on well inside the final furlong to beat Magnification by two and a quarter lengths.

Two to one favourite and Aidan O'Brien trained Churchill caught the eye when staying on well in third on debut.

There was a definite sense of 'they knew' about the winner who had initially been backed at 66/1 (Paddy Power) yesterday and 33/1 generally and while there was a 30 cent deduction following three withdrawn horses (at c. 7/2, 7/1 and 50/1), Van Der Decken was in the end returned the well supported 6/1 third favourite.

Afterwards Twomey, based near O'Brien in Fethard, Co Tipperary, stated “that's my first two-year-old winner and Wayne gave him a lovely ride and everything seemed to go okay.

“I was a bit worried about the ground coming here as I think he'll like better ground. I'm thrilled with him.

“He's entered in the Phoenix Stakes — we'll see where we go. Wayne said he thinks he'll get further.”

The son of Dutch Art, appropriately, gets his name from the captain of the legendary ghost ship The Flying Dutchman - Captain Hendrick van der Decken.

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson