King records 1st winner with well-backed Girl

James King got his training career off to a dream start as Derrygereen Girl justified strong support in the 25 Euro Free Bet At 188BET Bumper at Roscommon.

King trains near Thurles and was having his first runner after taking out a licence just last week.

His brother Pa was aboard the Westerner mare who was backed on track from 10/1 into 9/2, and supporters had few worries as she made all.

The five-year-old raced alone on the inner as the remainder of the 11 runners elected to keep wide in search of better ground.

She galloped on strongly in the straight, and was in total control from well over a furlong out coming home a very easy 19 lengths clear of 11/4 favourite Seaboard Christening Spoon was a further 12 lengths adrift in third.

King said, “It’s a special day and especially with my brother on board. She had been working mighty, and my cousin Mick Byrne who has ridden plenty of winners in England sat on her before we came today and gave me the nod that she was going mighty. We knew we were coming here with a chance.

"I used to ride as amateur to Edward O'Grady and worked in a few yards learning my trade before spending some time in Australia. It was always the plan to start training.

“I'm just trying to get a few horses in and a few breakers. I train just outside Thurles on my mother's property."

(GC & AM)