"Very sound" Drake can mature even more

Drake Passage on his fourth outing, and his first at Dundalk, brought to an end a sequence of three second placings to take the spoils in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden (Plus 10 Race).

This was a pretty smoothly achieved win from the front for the Declan McDonogh-ridden chestnut, returning from an 86 day break. The Dandy Man gelding found plenty when required to beat Shahroze by two and a quarter lengths.

Winning trainer John Oxx said of the 5/4 favourite: "He deserved a win. We gave him a bit of time as he's not as precocious as a lot of the sire's stock. He's a big rangy fella and has improved since his last run. He's a very sound horse.

"The mile probably stretches him a bit and he could drop down to seven furlongs. That is it for this year, and he needs to mature a bit more.

"Mrs Keller (owner, from Switzerland) is a good supporter and has five horses in the yard."

(AM & EM)