Kibris stays on best to make winning debut in Curragh opener

Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle won the opening race on the final day of the Flat season with newcomer Kibris staying on best to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at the Curragh.

Sent off a well backed 5/1 chance (from 11/1) the Lope De Vega colt found plenty for pressure from over two furlongs out, before eventually getting on top inside the final furlong.

Held up in mid division early on, as Shane Foley took them along on Iron Duke, the eventual winner was hard at work as the leader skipped a couple of lengths clear with two furlongs to race.

However, to his credit, the colt found plenty when McMonagle asked for more, coming through to take second over a furlong out, before edging ahead inside the final furlong.

At the finish, Kibris had half-a-length to spare over Game Point with Double Vision the same distance back in third.

Dylan Browne McMonagle said: “He’s a gorgeous big horse. The race set up lovely for him and I got a nice lead.

“He travelled very well and was very professional. He picked up a lot quicker than I thought he would.

“The ground is slow and it’s taking a bit of getting. There is no hiding place and the best horse won.

“He’s a good tough horse and one to look forward to. He has plenty of gears and he’ll have no problem stepping up to a mile and a quarter next year.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee.