Kansas makes the breakthrough in first time cheekpieces Kansas made the breakthrough in first time cheekpieces, as he took the opener at Tipperary, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. Placed on his first three starts, the Wootton Bassett bay was widely expected to get off the mark this evening and was returned the clear favourite at 8/11. Settled behind the leaders by Wayne Lordan and fourth halfway, the Aidan O'Brien-trained victor was ridden with over a furlong to go and while briefly looking vulnerable, he picked up well inside the final 150 yards, going on to prevail by half-a-length. The front-running Jack The Bachelor (10/1) ultimately had to settle for second under Colin Keane for Stephen Thorne, while Namid (16/1 from 28s) was a length-and-a-quarter back in third. "He's fast and the last two days he got to the front too quick and pulled up but Wayne gave him a very good ride," O'Brien reflected. "He's a quick horse and I'd say that is going to be his trip." Pat Keating, O'Brien's travelling head lad, received a kick in the parade ring beforehand and the champion trainer added: "Hopefully he's ok. They are just keeping him inside to make sure he's ok. He got a kick in the tummy." Additional reporting by Alan Magee
