Eagle too good for Peregrine

Great White Eagle put in an impressive display to score on his debut in the opener at Naas this afternoon, the Michael T O’Maille Race.

The Aidan O’Brien trained son of Elusive Quality was 3/1 this morning with Paddy Power, opening on-course at 5/2, touching 7/4, before going off the 2/1 second favourite.

Given a patient ride by Joseph O’Brien, the bay colt cruised into the lead a furlong out, keeping on well from there to record a comfortable two and three parts of a length success.

Recent course and distance winner Gold Peregrine was sent off the 11/10 favourite for rider/trainer Johnny Murtagh.

He was under pressure a fair way out, but he did keep on close home to take second, while Remember You was a short head back in third under Wayne Lordan for David Wachman at 9/1.

Aidan O'Brien said afterwards: "You’d have to be delighted with that for a first run. He was just ready to run and I was delighted with the way he travelled.

"Joseph said he has plenty of speed and he knew after a furlong and a half that he was going better than the others.

"We might look at the Round Towers Stakes at the Curragh for him now."

The winner cost $120,000 as a yearling, and was sold for a massive 760,000 Guineas at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale in April (a European record breeze-up price).

Paddy Power have introduced Great White Eagle into the betting for next year's 2000 Guineas, making him a 16/1 chance.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee