Sluice well named to handle testing ground in Down Royal

Sluice made a winning debut in comfortable fashion over seven furlongs at Down Royal.

Joseph O'Brien 's filly contested the auction series fillies' maiden and went off a 4/1 chance.

Heavy ground was the polar opposite to what she encountered in landing a barrier trial on the Polytrack at Dundalk, but it certainly didn't inconvenience her.

Declan McDonogh pushed her along to lead a furlong out and his partner kept on well to score by a snug length and a-half from Cornahilt Soldier (11/2). Saxon Land was a couple of lengths further back in third at 22/1.

Stable representative Sean Corby said: "She won a barrier trial a few weeks back in Dundalk, so ground here today would have been questionable in whether she would handle it or not, but Declan said she did and did things right.

"He slotted over from a wide draw and she picked up well up the straight and won nicely.

"Declan said that as well (another furlong would do no harm), he said she would definitely stay a mile and he was happy with her so she should be a nice filly going forward."

"I'm not sure where Joseph will go next, she handled Dundalk and soft ground here today so she seems quite versatile."