Easy for Queen Maedbh on debut for O'Brien

Queen Maedbh ran out an easy winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Series Maiden.

A fine second on debut at Leopardstown in July when trained by Gavin Cromwell for Syndicates Racing, she since changed hands and is now in the care of Joseph O'Brien for the H O S Syndicate.

The winner of a barrier trial over the course and distance, the Gleneagles chestnut went off the clear 4/6 favourite this afternoon.

Settled in second by Mikey Sheehy, she cruised to the front a furlong out and soon stretched clear, coming home two-and-three-parts of a length to the good.

The front-running Catherine Of Sienna (5/2) had to settle for second under Seamie Heffernan for Kevin Coleman, while Aussie Girl (33/1) was three-parts of a length back in third.

Assistant trainer Brendan Powell said: "We'll see if she progresses, hopefully she will.

"He (Mikey Sheehy) said she travelled the whole way around there, that she picked up nicely and it was just hands and heels.

"She has had a long break since we got her and I don't know if there is anything more for her here.

"She could be (exciting). At home she would be very relaxed and it is hard to gauge what she is but, without a doubt, she definitely showed a lot more speed on the track than she does at home."

The winner holds an early entry in the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh next year.

Additional reporting by Michael Graham