Malabu Drive is ridden out by Colin Keane© Photo Healy Racing
Malabu Drive ran out a comfortable winner of the Killarney Oils Maiden, making all under Colin Keane.
Fifth on debut at Cork in early May, the Ger Lyons trained victor was again fifth on his second start over a mile and five at Navan.
Back to a mile and three this evening, the son of Frankel was expected to make the breakthrough, going off the 11/8 favourite.
In a healthy lead from early in the straight, he soon had all his rivals off the bridle. Ridden from the two-furlong pole, he kept up the gallop all the way to the line, coming home two-and-a-half lengths to the good. Chilled Out (6/4) tried hard to reduce the deficit in the straight, but ultimately had to settle for second under Shane Crosse for Joseph O'Brien.
The front pair pulled thirteen lengths clear of Fond Farewell in third.
Kerri Lyons, daughter of the winning trainer, said: "It was trainer error the last race as it was too far for him, but the penny really dropped after that and we knew coming down here it would take a nice one to beat him.
"We knew he'd enjoy the trip this time and he did well from the last run."
STEWARDS REPORT
D. King, rider of Desert Camp trained by Denis Gerard Hogan, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount lost his action turning into the straight and was pulled up.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
