Well-bred Affinisea impresses on debut

Newcomer Affinisea ran out an easy winner of the last at Roscommon, the At The Races Maiden, scoring under Declan McDonogh for John Oxx.

Settled in mid-division he made headway into fourth entering the straight.

He cruised through to lead a furlong and a half from home and he stretched clear when ridden from the furlong pole, going on to score by five lengths. Macnicholson was sent off the 7/4 favourite and he finished second under Fran Berry for Jessica Harrington while Hudson's Bay (12/1) was a further length and a quarter back in third under Billy Lee for Thomond O'Mara.

The winning four-year-old son of Sea The Stars was sent off a 9/4 having opened at 3/1 on-course.

He was bought for E850,000 as a foal by his owners Sunderland Holdings Ltd (the Tsui family) and he is related to plenty of high-class performers.

His half-brother Soldier Of Fortune won the Irish Derby in 2007 and he also claimed the Coronation Cup and the Prix Niel during his illustrious career.

Other half-brothers include Group 3 winner Heliostatic and Listed victor Carraiglawn.

John Oxx revealed afterwards: "He was injured for a long time, and did nothing at two and not a lot as a three-year-old. He's only really been in training from last autumn.

"We have been minding him, and that shower we had an hour ago helped. He's a beautiful looking horse with a great pedigree and he's got talent.

"He could be a horse to have as a five-year-old. Time is moving on and we will not be too hard on him this year.

"That's the first time he's ever been on grass. We have not learned a lot about him at home as the ground has been too firm to run him on grass.

"I'd like to find a winners race over a mile and a half, and he could get an entry in the mile and six furlongs race on the Friday of Galway."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee