Stubbs eases to maiden success

The well-bred Stubbs got off the mark on the second time of asking as he ran out a comfortable winner of the Requinto EBF Maiden over five furlongs.

The Aidan O’Brien trained son of Danehill Dancer (quick double for the sire after True Verdict took the first), finished third on his debut at the Curragh in March in the first 2yo maiden of the year.

He was sent off the 4/5 favourite to oblige this afternoon and he hit the front over a furlong from home, stretching clear from there to win by four and a half lengths at the line. Treadstone kept to take second under Wayne Lordan for Tommy Stack at 16/1 while The Organ Grinder was a length and a half back in third at 11/4 for Chris Hayes and Kevin Prendergast.

Winning rider Joseph O’Brien said afterwards: "He travelled well and quickened up well. He is bred to get further so he’ll be a nice horse for next year over a trip".

The winner, who holds an entry in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in August, is out of Moonstone who won the Irish Oaks back in 2008 for Aidan O’Brien.

He is also a half-brother to Nevis, who is Epsom Derby bound after his easy win in the Betfred Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield last weekend.

Additional reporting by Michael Graham