Gentleman Duke returned to the venue where he had his first two starts to get off the mark in style on outing number four in the opening Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Median Auction Maiden at Sligo.

The 9/2 shot led over a furlong out and he soon stretched clear under Fran Berry, accompanied by the loose Vasoni (unseated Billy Lee after the start, had his feet out of the irons as his mount gave trouble in the stalls) inside the final furlong. The victorious son of Bachelor Duke, owned by former bookmaker Liam Flood (he goes by Gentleman Liam Flood on the poker circuit), went on to account for the favourite, Gold Post by seven lengths.

Arthur Moore trains the winner and he reported: "It's around thirty years ago since I had my last two-year-old winner. He is a grand colt and he should make a nice three-year-old. He is very straight-forward and consistent. He'll probably have another run in a nursery to get a bit more experience."