Glory Daze strides to the line© Photo Healy Racing
Glory Daze (9/2) was the most experienced horse in the 1m2f three-year-old maiden at the Curragh and used it to good effect.
He responded generously when Gary Carroll asked him to improve from third racing to the final furlong.
The Cotai Glory colt soon assumed the lead and quickened away well in the final 150 yards to put three and a quarter lengths on runner-up Cougar (17/2 - 11/2). Cougar's stablemate, the well-related Waterville was backed down to 8/11 favourite on debut for Aidan O'Brien but was beaten five lengths into third.
Trainer Andrew Oliver said: "That was great. He's a very big horse and he showed a lot of promise last year.
“He was unlucky on his second start in Navan when he got trapped on the rail.
“He actually ran very well in the Eyrefield Stakes when he got badly hampered. That looked like it was going to be a good run.
“He's improved over the winter and we expected him to go well but we thought he might need the run. Everything went well for him and Gary gave him a lovely ride.
“He's still got a lot to learn, Gary said he still rode green. He loved him and we're delighted with that.
“We haven't any entries and we'll make a plan from here but he looks like a horse that will definitely have to step up in class.”
Glory Daze had finished sixth over a mile at this track on debut in August last year before a close third at Navan in October. He signed off for the season the same month when unplaced in a Group 3 at Leopardstown after being badly hampered.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
