No worries for Neolithic in Gowran opener If one took his Gladness Stakes run at face value, Neolithic was entitled to be a bit shorter than a starting price of 10/11 for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race at Gowran Park and those who availed of those odds had few worries from an early stage. The Sioux Nation colt, trained by Aidan O'Brien for the Coolmore partners, had finished third to Big Gossey in that Listed event at the Curragh and here, facing three rivals over seven furlongs, he led early in the straight and was ridden out by Wayne Lordan to beat Greek Mythology by three and a-quarter lengths. Ballydoyle representative Chris Armstrong reflected “He had a lovely run the first day and went up a fair bit in the ratings. “He came out of the race well and this race just fitted in. “The plan was always to go from the last day to the Tetrarch, but he came out of the race bouncing and this race fitted in perfectly. “I think he’ll be even better on better ground. He’s a horse that is progressing. He’ll go to the Tetrarch next and then see how he goes after that. “Wayne said he enjoyed that and really hit the line strongly. He felt when he hit the line he wasn’t empty. “Hopefully when he gets better ground, like he did in Naas on his last run as a two-year-old, he’ll improve another bit.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
