'Smaller fields' suit jockey O'Brien Turnberry Isle gained an overdue first win of the year at Killarney today as the son of Galileo landed the five-runner Sauternes Cup Rated Race, under Champion Jockey Donnacha O'Brien. The Aidan O'Brien trained colt won his maiden on his final start as a juvenile and while he had failed to win in six handicaps this year, today made all when beating Tony The Gent comfortably by three and three parts of a lengths. Jockey O'Brien later said “he can be a little keen at home but the track suited and he was able to put it to bed before he came off the bridle. “He is out of a top class sprinter (Rosdhu Queen) and whether he has maybe more of a sprinter's brain than body and that could be a lot of it (his temperament).” Quick-witted O'Brien never misses an open-goal and when asked “do you think smaller fields suit him better?” his succinct reply was “smaller fields are always easier.”
