18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Vitalogy shows plenty of life on Naas debut

Wed 24th Jul 2019, 19:22

Vitalogy (near side) gets up on the line to beat Arranmore and Harpocrates (partly hidden)Vitalogy (near side) gets up on the line to beat Arranmore and Harpocrates (partly hidden)
© Photo Healy Racing

Joseph O’Brien ran three in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Naas and his first time out Vitalogy (25/1), under Shane Crosse, looked useful when getting up close home to defeat a couple of rivals with good form in the book.

The son of No Nay Never, who cost 120,000 Euros at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale in May, finished off his race very strongly to collar long-time leader Arranmore and the odds-on Harpocrates (fifth in the Chesham Stakes previously).

Half a length and a head were the margins, and for last year’s champion apprentice it was winner number 15 of the current campaign.

Winning trainer Joseph O’Brien said : “We thought he’d run a nice race but mine first time out are usually raw. When the penny dropped with him in the last half a furlong he quickened up very well.

“He looks an above average horse and I’d say that was a decent enough maiden. It was a messy race as they hacked to halfway and then sprinted from there. He will learn plenty as well.

“He will have to go into a Stakes race now. I had it in my head to go seven with him next time but looking at that he doesn’t need to go seven.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

1st
25/1
Tote €24.00 €4.40
2nd
0.5L
5/1
€2.20
3rd
nk
4/5Fav
€1.02
4th
3.5L
100/1
About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.