Voice Of Reason (hidden on inner) battles out the finish with Ultra Fine and Eastmore (nearest) © Photo Healy Racing
Voice Of Reason ultimately came out on top in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden, but he was made to work hard for his win.
Beaten by just a neck and a head on his sole start as a juvenile at the Curragh in August, the Ger Lyons-trained bay was a disappointing third on his return to action at Roscommon last month.
Again well-fancied to make the breakthrough this evening, the Churchill gelding was sent off the 11/8 favourite under Colin Keane.
Settled behind the leaders, he improved to the front from early in the straight, but was strongly pressed and joined over a furlong from home.
Soon narrowly headed, he was ridden in third inside the final 200 yards but battled back gamely in the closing stages to prevail by a head.
The Dermot Weld-trained Ultra Fine (5/1) was the one just denied, while Eastmore (7/1 from 11s) was another head away in third.
Shane Lyons, brother of the winning handler and assistant trainer, said in the aftermath:- "Martin White (owner/breeder) is a Limerick man so it's great that he's after winning here for him. He bred him as well and we're delighted with that.
"We're delighted for the horse. We were a bit shocked that he was favourite in Roscommon because there was a horse rated 103 in it. He shouldn't have been favourite, everyone was disappointed bar ourselves because we knew he'd come on from it.
"We were a bit worried about the ground, that it was better than yielding when we walked it, but the rain just came in time.
"Colin was delighted with him and he'll get further. Mentally he was an awful lot better today.
"Colin was brilliant on him but he dug it out as well. It's onwards and upwards, I think mentally and physically he'll improve and improve to better things."
The winner is a half-brother to Beauty Amigo, who was twice successful in Listed company when trained by Jessica Harrington, before being sold on to continue his racing career in Hong Kong.
STEWARDS REPORTS
The Raceday Stewards interviewed G.P. Halpin, rider of Eastmore (GB), concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. In his evidence, G.P. Halpin stated his mount hung right throughout and his first hit with the whip was for corrective purposes to get him to come around the bend. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards were of the opinion that G.P. Halpin was in breach of R10(3)(g) by using his whip with excessive frequency. Having taken his clean previous record into consideration, the Raceday Stewards cautioned G.P. Halpin on this occasion.
G.P. Halpin, rider of Eastmore (GB), trained by Kevin Prendergast, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung right throughout this race.
D.P. McDonogh, rider of The Great Kingdom trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung left in the straight.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
