Muscle Beach (centre) is driven out by Fran Berry to beat Wilshire Boulevard (left) and Gold Peregrine© Photo Healy Racing
The Fran Berry ridden Muscle Beach just got the better of Wilshire Boulevard and Gold Peregrine in the opener at Navan this afternoon, the Lynn Lodge Stud EBF Median Auction Maiden.
Trained by Charles O'Brien, the son of Canadian Hall of Fame sire Langfuhr (stands in Kentucky), finished sixth behind Sir John Hawkins on his debut at the Curragh, two weeks ago tomorrow.
Backed from 10/1 this morning and 8/1 on-course, the Painestown Syndicate owned colt went off at 7/1 and he was prominent in the early stages.
He dropped back to fifth at halfway before he made headway into third a furlong and a half out.
He was ridden to challenge a furlong from home and he just edged ahead in the closing stages, holding on at the line to beat the even money favourite, Wilshire Boulevard by a short head.
Gold Peregrine, Johnny Murtagh’s first two-year-old runner in the training ranks, finished best of all under Fergal Lynch and he was a further head back in third at 12/1.
Charles O'Brien said afterwards; "I thought he'd improve a good bit from the Curragh. He was very raw at the Curragh and Fran said he is still a bit raw and that he'll improve again.
"That's his ground as he is American bred and he hops off it.
"I'd say judged by the talk beforehand that it was a decent auction maiden but only time will tell.
"He is entered in the Railway Stakes (June 29th at the Curragh) although that might be aiming a bit high."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
