Albany County pays Derby favourite compliment Runner-up to Derby favourite Darkness Falls last time, the Aidan O'Brien trained Albany County paid his stablemate a compliment when going one better in the Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden (Smullen Series) at Gowran Park. Sent off 8/15f under Wayne Lordan, the Camelot colt chased leader Ryano Bhino in the initial stages of the mile contest. Pushed along to lead over two furlongs out, the market leader kept on well inside the final furlong to beat newcomer Mount Meru by three-quarters-of-a-length. Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: "He had two nice runs coming here. He was still very babyish. The run around here at a turning track, and coming downhill, will be good experience for him. He's a horse you'll probably see the best of once he goes up in trip on a big galloping track. We'll probably get one more run into him. There are a couple of Group races coming up. He'll be a lovely middle-distance horse for next year."
