Waves gets off the mark on fifth attempt

Rule The Waves got off the mark on his fifth career start as he took the opener at Killarney this evening, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nursery.

The Aidan O'Brien trained son of War Front ran some good races in defeat in maiden company and he was stepped up to a mile for the first time today.

Sent off an 11/4 chance he was settled towards the rear and improved to take closer order on the outer from over two furlongs out.

He was ridden to lead over a furlong from home and he kept on well from there to score easily by four and three parts of a length.

The Johnny Murtagh trained Yulong Xiongba (drifted from 7/2 to 9/2 on-course) finished second under Ross Coakley while the 9/4 favourite (from 3's on-course) Cruidin was a neck back in third under Kevin Manning for Jim Bolger.

Winning rider Seamie Heffernan said afterwards: "He appreciated the staying mile. It was a bit of a funny race as Rory (Rory Cleary on Quick Sketch ran off the bend and took a few with him. My lad had the experience and it stood to him."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee