Gaga takes auction maiden

Mattymolls Gaga stepped forward from his promising debut run to take the median auction maiden at Leopardstown this evening.

Colm O'Donoghue won the early battle for the lead on the 7/2 shot and asked his mount to stretch a furlong-and-a-half from home.

The Jessica Harrington-trained colt kept on well in the closing stages as The Broghie Man finished well to get within three-parts-of-a-length at the line.

The winner had been fifth in a hot maiden won by Lethal Steps at the track last month.

“He did it well and obviously improved from his first run,” said O'Donoghue.

“He handled the little cut in the ground well and he's got plenty of pace. Jessie thought he'd be very hard to beat today.

“He's got a gear. He's a horse that is still a bit nervous so he can only improve mentally and physically. He's something to look forward to next year also.”