King Of the Romans is undoubtedly one of the lesser lights in Ballydoyle but, at the start of a big week for the yard, he got off the mark at the ninth time of asking at Ballinrobe in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.

The son of Holy Roman Emperor was sent straight to the front on leaving the stalls by Joseph O’Brien in this nine-furlong event but was headed around halfway by Madam Mo

However the champion jockey got a great run up the inner entering the short straight to take it up again, and the 100/30 chance soon settled the issue to beat the staying on newcomer Modista (16/1) by three and three quarter lengths.

The frustrating Cocktail Hour (5/2) held every chance approaching the straight but was again found wanting in third, with 9/4 favourite Madam Mo also weakening to finish fourth.

Joseph O’Brien said afterwards, “I’m happy enough with that. He’d run well before and he was probably just coming up against better horses in those auction maidens.”

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy