Dead-heat helps Coen collect in Gowran's opening races There was a dead-heat in Gowran’s Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C & G) Maiden today, as jockey Ben Coen completed an opening-races double at the meeting on Equus Victor (25s - 14/1), who emerged triumphant along with Drumbeat (5/4f). Coen improved Equus Victor to lead early in the home straight and after being strongly pressed by Drumbeat and Wayne Lordan inside the final furlong, the pair passed the line together. Coen had earlier bagged the opener on debutante Curracloe, while joint-winning trainer Danny Murphy reported "I gave a few quid for Equus Victor - £90k. He's a grand horse. I must say I really like him and always have. “I ran him on the first day of the Flat season, brought him home and gelded him and gave him a bit of time. Dylan Browne McMonagle then rode him in Dundalk and said that a cut in the ground over seven-furlongs would suit. “I'm delighted for the gang (owner Karl Kirwan) because they are with me all the way." Regarding the Aidan O’Brien-trained Drumbeat, himself a 200,000gns yearling, representative Chris Armstrong said "he ran a lovely race in Leopardstown and came forward nicely. “The draw (14) wasn't ideal being caught wide but he hit the line well. He's a horse that will make up into a lovely middle-distance horse next year and a big galloping track will suit him. We'll look at one of those stakes races over a mile, or even further, towards the end of the season." Quotes from John O’Riordan
