Panic strikes on first start since being gelded

Panic Alarm made the breakthrough on his third start, as he ran out a good winner of the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden.

Fourth and third on his first two outings and gelded since his last run, the Jessica Harrington trained victor was expected to deliver this evening, going off the 6/4 favourite, easing from 11/10 in early shows.

Settled behind the leaders by Shane Foley, the son of Kuroshio was briefly short of room from the two furlong pole, but soon got the desired split and was pushed along to challenge with over a furlong to race.

Ridden to the front inside the final 200 yards, he kept on well in the closing stages, coming home a length-and-a-quarter to the good in the colours of Hronis Racing. Semblance Of Order (2/1 from 4s early) finished second under Billy Lee for Andy Oliver, while Skip To The Beat (100/1) ran on nicely to take third, another half-a-length back.

"His form was very strong in his first two runs and we just decided to geld him after that. He was a bit buzzy and that," Foley said.

"He has really settled down and grown-up since he has got that done.

"He enjoyed going the trip and he'll even go a bit further.

"He was entitled to do that. Andy's horse (Oliver, Semblance Of Order) is not a bad horse, so it rode an okay race. He is a nice horse going forward.

"I was waiting for it (a gap) to open down the road and I didn't want to switch out. It was only a matter of time and, when it did open, he picked up, in fairness to him."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham