Blazing Sunset and Leigh Roche win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden © Photo Healy Racing
Blazing Sunset appreciated the step up in trip when staying on strongly to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden at Sligo.
The Dermot Weld trained colt had shown promise when fourth at Killarney on his sole juvenile outing last season but on breeding, he was always going to be a better horse when faced with this distance.
Leigh Roche soon had the Bated Breath colt in a prominent position behind early leader Serotonin before taking up the running on the Juddmonte owned horse over a furlong out.
The eventual winner had to battle hard to see off a whole host of challenges in the straight but he kept on strongly to shed his maiden status.
Leigh Roche said: "It took him a while to find his rhythm but once I got in behind one he settled well. He's going to improve plenty from it. Once he came off the bridle turning in, he just got a little bit unbalanced and you'll see a better horse on a nicer track.
"He's a big horse and he's only starting to come to hand at home. Most of Mr Weld's have been taking a run this year and he had a nice blow with me.
"I started with Mr Weld when I was sixteen and spent 10 or 11 years there and I'm back there now."
Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
