Turbo lands gamble in style

The well-backed Turbo Spirit ran out an impressive winner of the opener at Naas this afternoon, the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden.

Trained by Mick Halford, the son of Charm Spirit failed to make an impact on debut over the course and distance last month and was available at 40/1 in a place this morning.

The Sammy Hon Kit Ma owned colt touched 8s on-course before going off an 11/1 chance under Ronan Whelan.

Settled in mid-division, he was switched to the outside with under two furlongs to race, sweeping through to lead inside the final 150 yards, before going on to score convincingly by three lengths.

Newcomer Dame Dandy (11/2), who was prominent throughout, ran a fine race to finish second under Kevin Manning for Jim Bolger, while fellow debutant Rebel Step (18/1) was another length and a half back in third. Street Kid was returned the 5/2 favourite and he faded badly from over a furlong out, eventually trailing home in last.

The winning rider said afterwards: "He was our first two-year-old runner so he was always showing plenty at home.

"We were a little bit disappointed with him the first day. Once we quickened he was very green and he hit a few of the undulations. It was a run to draw a line through and that was definitely more like what he was showing at home.

"He's a very straight forward individual. Mick gave him an easy time after his first run and his last few bits of work have been telling us he's ready to go again.

"He handled the cut in the ground but he may be better on a nicer surface and stepping up another furlong. He pricked his ears a bit in front and I've no doubt he’ll be better for stepping up in trip."

Turbo Spirit was bought for E72,000 as a yearling and is a half-brother to Robin Hoods Bay who won the Winter Derby at Lingfield back in 2014.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee