Mekong River (navy) comes through to head Hidden Oasis in the closing stages© Photo Healy Racing
Mekong River came from last to first to win the feature race at Listowel this afternoon, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Premier Nursery.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, and ridden by Joseph, the son of Galileo was maintaining his unbeaten record today, after winning his maiden (in the Stewards Room) at Gowran last month before following up at Killarney.
Having opened at 3/1 overnight with Paddy Power, he was available at just 7/4 with the same firm this morning, however he drifted to an opening show of 5/2 on-course before going off at 9/4 chance.
Fitted with a visor for the first time, he was settled towards the rear and he was being driven along in last as they entering the straight.
However he responded well for pressure, getting a lovely run through on the rail over a furlong from home, keeping on strongly in the closing stages to score by a length. Hidden Oasis (7/2 overnight, and 2/1 to 15/8 favourite on-course) hit the front a furlong out and he looked the most likely winner under Fran Berry for David Wachman, however he had no answer to the winners challenge, and he had to settle for second, with Colour Blue just a neck back in third.
Joseph O’Brien said afterwards: "He is improving away with racing and he is a grand horse. I was happy to get the gap on the rail and he quickened up well when he got it.
"He seems to be coming along and it is hard to know how good he is."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
