A switch to the turf the key for Irish Minister Outing number seven, his first on turf, yielded a breakthrough win for Irish Minister in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden at Gowran. The finish of this mile contest resembled the conclusion of an ultra competitive handicap, but the margin of victory will matter little to connections and supporters of 14/1 chance Irish Minister. Shane Crosse got the Calumet Farm runner across the line in first, by a short head and a nose from Magnetic North (a 50/1 chance) and Shifted Strategy. It was only small margins back as far as the seventh then either. Joseph O'Brien trains Irish Minister and he said: "I was a bit worried about the ground but he'd been running consistently on the all-weather and he deserved a win. "He got a very good ride. Shane is a good rider - good value for the 7Ib claim." (AM & EM)
