State gets head in front

Empire State gained a deserved success when claiming the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Dundalk this afternoon.

The Ballydoyle colt had been placed on four of his six previous runs and got his head in front in the five-furlong contest.

Donnacha O'Brien tracked the front-running Mistress Of Venice on the 4/6 favourite before asking him for an effort a furlong-and-a-half from home.

The Scat Daddy colt got on top inside the final 100 yards to record a length-and-a-quarter win.

“Billy's horse rubbered along there and was probably giving him everything she had early. My horse travelled well, I was comfortable and I was happy when I got stuck into him he'd find a length or two,” said the winning rider.

“After that I'd nearly say six might be his optimum trip. I travelled but I wasn't hard on it early.

“The wind is behind us jumping out of the stalls and then is left to right in the straight. It probably suited me as I got a little bit of cover on my left.

“He'll probably go for a handicap somewhere. He's not world beater but it was nice to get a win into him.”