Gustavus Vassa (centre) gets up under Chris Hayes© Photo Healy Racing
Gustavus Vassa looked a promising type when making a winning debut for Andy Oliver in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden at Down Royal. Wooster took them along in the ten furlong contest and was chased down by 16/1 shot Gustavus Vassa and On The Go Again inside the final furlong.
There wasn't much between the trio in the closing stages with Chris Hayes getting more from the newcomer to put his head in front between his rivals for a head success over On The Go Again.
“He's a lovely horse. He's a horse I've been waiting on for a while. He's very big, very backward and raw,” said Oliver.
“He's always showed a great attitude, we've always liked him and we just waited. It's only this last month that we thought 'yes it's coming'.
“There is a good deal to come. He showed a great attitude and Chris gave him a great ride. I told him he's going to be inexperienced and you're just going to have to deal with it in the race. He left him alone and it was a great ride.
“He battled well. We always thought this would probably be his minimum but he's not short of toe.
“They are lovely people that own him and they've been very supportive. We'll see now where we progress from here.”
