Drombeg Banner and Niall McCullagh win from Orinoco River (left) © Photo Healy Racing
Drombeg Banner (10/3) got Ken Condon’s weekend off to a good start by landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden in the hands of Niall McCullagh.
The Curragh handler has Stakes runners in Britain, France and here at home over the next two days and this victory was following on from last night’s double at Tipperary.
The Starspangledbanner colt, an encouraging fifth on debut at Naas, was a little slowly away but soon found his stride and led after a furlong. He wasn’t headed thereafter and asserted in the final furlong to beat the 5/4 favourite Orinoco River by a length and a quarter.
The victorious bay, homebred by the McAuliffe family, is a half-brother to three winners.
"We were discussing beforehand how the family all relished soft ground and the dam (Drombeg Dawn) was an Irish Linconshire winner on soft," said Condon
"We liked the horse in the spring and I said to Phil (McAuliffe, owner) we'd have him ready to run Guineas weekend but he grew on us. Even now isn't furnished but that's a nice way to be as he is a big frame, has scope and has a bit of talent which compensated for a little lack of maturity.
"Hopefully he will develop further, Niall (McCullagh) was nicely impressed and has ridden long enough and plenty good ones to know.
"I think he can makes Stakes level although I'm not entirely sure where we go next."
Quotes from Thomas Weekes
