Aidan & Joseph O'Brien© Photo Healy Racing
Aidan O'Brien's Giant Redwood followed in some illustrious footsteps when winning the Come Racing On The Active Retirement Raceday 21st October Maiden at Navan on Wednesday.
The same contest was won by Cheltenham Bumper hero Silver Concorde 12 months ago, and this Ballydoyle colt also looks to have been blessed with plenty of stamina after a strong staying performance on debut.
A half-brother to Derby winner Pour Moi, the 4-1 chance took a while to get going for Joseph O'Brien, but belied his inexperience and eventually battled to a one-and-a-quarter length victory from Bold Bid
The O'Briens combined again to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden with Cook Islands
The heavily supported 8-15 favourite had showed promise when running on well at the Curragh on debut, and relished the step up to a mile when pulling three and a half lengths clear of Sea Of Mystery < Prospector (5-1) made it a treble for the Ballydoyle duo when he battled on to land the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
One of a number of horses in with a shout entering the final furlong, the son of Galileo stuck his neck out for Joseph O'Brien, beating Mr Caffrey by half a length.< Emergent (3-1) travelled like a nice prospect when landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden by length from Etched
A daughter of Oasis Dream, her pedigree suggests there could be plenty of improvement to with that experience under her belt.
Michael Mulvany's Dew Line (14-1) was there to be shot at in the Meath Handicap, but showed willing when holding on gamely to score by a length from Our Rachael under Declan McDonogh.
The opening Kells Maiden went the way of David Wachman's Way Of Light (2-1), who responded well to Wayne Lordan's urgings to reel in Falcao and score by a neck, and Patrick Prendergast's Daisy Bell (10-1) overcame long-time leader Little Sweetheart to win the Trim Apprentice Handicap by one and three-quarter lengths under Daniel Redmond.
