Indigo Balance is ridden out by Colm O'Donoghue to beat Decrypt © Photo Healy Racing
Indigo Balance made the perfect start to his career by taking the opener at the Curragh this afternoon, the Tally Ho Stud Irish EBF Maiden.
Bought for E155,000 as a yearling, the Jessica Harrington trained colt is a full-brother to Cable Bay who was second in the Dewhurst in 2013, while also successful at Group 2 level.
Eleventh in the early stages, the bay victor made progress from halfway, and was pushed along to lead over a furlong out.
He was ridden by Colm O'Donoghue inside the final furlong, and kept on well from there to score by a length and half in the colours of owner Zhang Yuesheng.
Fellow newcomer Decrypt (5/1), who was backed from 16/1 last night, also raced towards rear, keeping on well from over a furlong out to finish a never nearer second under Billy Lee for Paddy Twomey.
The Mick Halford trained Vidiyni (12s to 8s on-course) was another length and a quarter back in third with Jamie Spencer aboard. Cardini was sent off the 10/3 favourite and he finished a disappointing eighth.
"He was very good. He's a smashing horse with a lovely temperament," said Harrington.
"He had been up to Dundalk for the barrier trial and had run very well there so he was like a colt today that had a run already. He was very professional.
"He's very straight-forward at home and has just always been a really nice colt.
"I thought he grew a bit there about two months ago and got a bit weak but he's now started to strengthen up again.
"I've no idea where he'll go now. I have to talk to Michael (Donohoe) and Mr Zhang. It's lovely to get a winner for him first time out. I have five horses for him and he's had two winners and a third now.
"He did it fairly easily and loved the ground. He's a very easy horse to run because you can switch him off and he can put him exactly where he wants.
"He went one way and then another way and then got a run. When he got to the front it's wide open spaces, he took a bit of a look and then put his head down and galloped to the line."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
