Zamroudpour's attitude impresses McDonogh

Zamroudpour stayed on best of all in Killarney's extended mile and three maiden to give Dermot Weld and Declan McDonogh a winner. Elysian Plains went off the 11/10 favourite but was hampered at the gates and slowly into stride as Valdus took the eight-runner field along.

McDonogh raced Zamroudpour in mid-division as Elysian Plains travelled round towards the rear.

Nothing was going better than Elysian Plains as he began to make headway on the outer entering the straight.

Zamroudpour soon came through to lead over two furlongs out but had Elysian Plains for company on his shoulder.

McDonogh soon got into the drive position and his mount kept finding along the rail.

Keane went for the whip over a furlong out on Elysian Plains and they almost got on terms inside the final furlong.

However, Zamroudpour, in the first-time cheekpieces, was too tough for him in the final 150 yards as he stuck to his task to win by a length and three quarters.

The winner was easy to back during the day out from 7/4 to an SP of 3/1.

Elysian Plains was nicely backed from 11/8 to 11/10f.

There was a major gamble before racing on Joseph O'Brien's newcomer Needs To Be Seen (15/2 to 15/8 before going off 7/2). He was never in contention to win but kept on for third, beaten five and three quarter lengths by the winner.

Declan McDonogh, in the Aga Khan colours, said: "He is after growing up as a horse after a couple of runs this year. He has grown into a man and has become more professional at home and I liked the way he put his head down when Colin (Keane, on the runner-up) came to me.

"You couldn't question his willingness and he stays well and got through the ground well, as it is quite deep."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes