Vermeer proves too good for Dawenkour

Johannes Vermeer easily accounted for the well-backed Dawenkour in the opening race of the four day Killarney August Festival, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

The Aidan O'Brien trained victor was disappointingly beaten into third on his debut when odds-on at Tipperary last month.

Sent off the 6/4 favourite this evening he soon led under Emmet McNamara. He was pushed along to extend his advantage under two furlongs out and he soon went clear, keeping on well in the final furlong to score by four and a quarter lengths.

Dawenkour (7/2 last night and from 2/1 to 7/4 on-course) finished second under Shane Foley for Mick Halford while newcomer Aridity (12/1) ran a fine race to take third a further three parts of a length back under Billy Lee for Willie McCreery.

Emmet McNamara said afterwards: "He won nicely and had an easy lead to halfway. When we straightened up he quickened all the way and I knew nothing would quicken up the way he did.

"He was raw on debut but is a nice progressive type. That's my first winner for Aidan O'Brien, I've been with him for over a year."

The winner, who cost E300,000 as a yearling, holds entries in the National Stakes, the Racing Post Trophy and the 2016 Epsom Derby.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes