Lucked Out & Declan McDonogh on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
After celebrating his 80th birthday yesterday trainer Kevin Prendergast got a belated gift this evening as his Lucked Out battled well to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden for 2yo's.
The son of Ramonti was having his third career start this afternoon having finished fifth on his debut at Leopardstown over six furlongs in April behind Forester.
Last time out he finished third behind Smoker in a maiden at Down Royal last month over seven furlongs.
Upped in trip by another furlong today he chased the leaders early on and was fourth at the halfway stage.
Fontana De Trevi (9/4) attempted to make all but the winner passed that rival with a furlong left to race and kept on well from there to score by two and a half lengths.
Fontana De Trevi plugged on to take second under Chris Hayes for Andy Oliver while the 11/8 favourite Cool Metallic could only manage to finish a further two and a quarter lengths back in third.
The winner opened at 9/1 with Paddy Powers this morning but opened on course at just 11/2 before being backed into 9/2 at the off.
Winning rider Declan McDonogh said afterwards: "The step up in trip suited him. We were very worried about the ground. He didn’t handle the track last time out (at Down Royal).
"It’s good for his owner Jeremy (Jeremy Harley) to get a winner and for the Boss around his birthday."
(On-course reporting by Michael Graham)
