Diego Ventura overcomes greeness to win on Naas debut

Diego Ventura overcame many obstacles in winning Naas' opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden on debut at 33/1 today, scoring for trainer Gavin Cromwell, jockey Gary Carroll and owner John Brennan.

The juvenile Mehmas-colt acted-up in the parade ring and initially unseated Carroll when entering the track and thus was last to arrive at the start.

There was a brief stalls malfunction for the race and following the second attempt, Diego Ventura missed the break. The winner was in mid-field when Carroll switched him right to challenge two furlongs out and in the final furlong, quickened well to lead close home and defeat Magnum Force by a half-length.

Trainer Cromwell revealed “I'm not surprised he won as we liked him but I'm sorry I didn't back him when I saw his price afterwards! He goes really well.”

He added “he was green, pulled up when he hit the front and won with loads of horse left. He could be very nice and it looked a nice race on paper. I can't say I was confident, or anything like that, but I would have been very disappointed if he wasn't bang there.

“I don't have a plan, we'll get him home and we'll see.”

Quotes from Gary Carson