World Famous was all the rage for the Gowran Festival Of Speed August 21st (C&G) Maiden but the 2/7 shot gave odds-on backers a few anxious moments before taking this extended nine-furlong event.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained son of Galileo had shown definite promise in three previous outings including when runner-up to Vellner at the Curragh last month. Rick Dalton set the pace and after building up a significant lead by halfway, appeared to have his rivals stretched with quarter of a mile to go.

However, World Famous gradually reeled in the front-runner and Dylan Browne McMonagle ’s mount kept on well in the final 100 yards to score by three-quarters of a length. Nemean made an eye-catching debut staying on best of all to take the runner-up berth, with Rick Dalton a neck further back in third.

O’Brien’s assistant Brendan Powell said, “It was workmanlike. He said that he never travelled anything like he did at the Curragh.

“He thought he was in trouble at the bottom of the hill but he kept staying. He said he’ll stay a bit further.

“Dylan felt he wanted a bit better ground, it was a bit dead for him, but he’s gone and won.

“He’s a big horse and how much improvement is there I don’t know.”