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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Rockaway runaway winner of Curragh opener

Sun 7th Jun 2015, 14:31

Rockaway Valley comes home an easy winner under Shane FoleyRockaway Valley comes home an easy winner under Shane Foley
© Photo Healy Racing

Rockaway Valley made all as he ran out an easy winner of the opener at the Curragh, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, scoring under Shane Foley for Jessica Harrington and owners Mill House LLC.

The bay son of Holy Roman Emperor went down by just a neck over the course and distance last month with Tonkinese, who won at Leopardstown on Friday, a further two lengths behind him in third.

Sent off the 6/4 favourite today he soon went to the front and once ridden over a furlong out he quickly went clear, going on to win by four and a quarter lengths.

Newcomer Juliette Fair finished second under Pat Smullen for Dermot Weld at 16/1 (was just 11/2 last night) while fellow debutant Air Vice Marshal was a further two and a quarter lengths back in third under Joseph O'Brien for his father Aidan.

Air Vice Marshal was available at 3/1 last night but he was well-backed today, opening on-course at just 6/4 before going off the 13/8 second favourite.

Jessica Harrington said afterwards: "He was good and came on a lot from his first run. Shane said he jumped well, always travelled and lengthened when he asked him. He went right away.

"He has plenty of fancy entries, and will probably come back here for the Railway Stakes. He's also in the National Stakes.

"Good ground is perfect for him."

The winner cost 165,000 guineas and he is a half-brother to Lottie Dod.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

1st
6/4Fav
Tote €2.90 €1.10
2nd
4.25L
16/1
€2.30
3rd
2.25L
13/8
€1.20
4th
nk
20/1
About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.