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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Well-bred Affinisea impresses on debut

Mon 6th Jul 2015, 21:16

Affinisea comes home a clear cut winner under Declan McDonoghAffinisea comes home a clear cut winner under Declan McDonogh
© Photo Healy Racing

Newcomer Affinisea ran out an easy winner of the last at Roscommon, the At The Races Maiden, scoring under Declan McDonogh for John Oxx.

Settled in mid-division he made headway into fourth entering the straight.

He cruised through to lead a furlong and a half from home and he stretched clear when ridden from the furlong pole, going on to score by five lengths. Macnicholson was sent off the 7/4 favourite and he finished second under Fran Berry for Jessica Harrington while Hudson's Bay (12/1) was a further length and a quarter back in third under Billy Lee for Thomond O'Mara.

The winning four-year-old son of Sea The Stars was sent off a 9/4 having opened at 3/1 on-course.

He was bought for E850,000 as a foal by his owners Sunderland Holdings Ltd (the Tsui family) and he is related to plenty of high-class performers.

His half-brother Soldier Of Fortune won the Irish Derby in 2007 and he also claimed the Coronation Cup and the Prix Niel during his illustrious career.

Other half-brothers include Group 3 winner Heliostatic and Listed victor Carraiglawn.

John Oxx revealed afterwards: "He was injured for a long time, and did nothing at two and not a lot as a three-year-old. He's only really been in training from last autumn.

"We have been minding him, and that shower we had an hour ago helped. He's a beautiful looking horse with a great pedigree and he's got talent.

"He could be a horse to have as a five-year-old. Time is moving on and we will not be too hard on him this year.

"That's the first time he's ever been on grass. We have not learned a lot about him at home as the ground has been too firm to run him on grass.

"I'd like to find a winners race over a mile and a half, and he could get an entry in the mile and six furlongs race on the Friday of Galway."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

1st
9/4
Tote €2.70 €1.70
2nd
5L
7/4Fav
€1.10
3rd
1.75L
12/1
€3.30
4th
0.5L
8/1
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.