Vultan moves clear© Photo Healy Racing
Vultan streaked right away in the final furlong to emphatically win the mile and a half handicap in Roscommon for three-year-olds plus.
Money came this morning for hat-trick-seeking All Class and she was soon manoeuvred to the front by Nathan Crosse.
She was still boxing away climbing the hill to the final two furlongs, however, Vultan travelled powerfully onto her tail and passed her racing to the furlong pole.
The race was soon over as he quickened away smartly in the final 150 yards. McDonogh could afford to ease him down in winning by two and a half lengths at 5/1.
All Class, the 13/8 favourite, had to settle for second and was three lengths in front of Persian Queen (9/1).
This brought up a treble on the card for McDonogh and a double for trainer Joseph O'Brien.
Assistant trainer Brendan Powell said: “He just got a bit of an aversion to the stalls but they have done a lot of work at home with him in the stalls. Faisel, the head lad, is brilliant with him.
“Joseph always said he thought he was a nice horse and he’s done that well in the end. He travelled good and, as he’s such a massive big horse, he should improve from that as well.
“There is a future to him and he’ll stay well.”
This was Vultan's handicap debut and his first run since being gelded.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
