18+ | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure

McDonogh on the right one of Joseph's in the nursery

Seaxburh (nearest)Seaxburh (nearest)
© Healy Racing Photos

Joseph O'Brien ran two in the Killarney's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nursery Handicap over a mile and it Declan McDonogh's mount Seaxburh (3/1) that fared much the better of the pair as she scored readily.

Stable jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle was on 6/4 favourite Belicoso but that one trailed in a well-beaten fifth. Seaxburh owed by Australian-based OTI International, made headway from off the pace to lead over a furlong out and went away to beat Maggie Walker by three and a quarter lengths. 

"She sometimes can be tardy coming out of the gates, but I think the mile brought the best out in her. The extra furlong suited as I could recover and I was able to get into a nice position.

"They kicked early in the straight, but I was able to sit and I thought she hit the line strong. I had a relaxed run, I was doing a swinging canter most of the way and when I turned her on, she turned on. 

"She appreciated the little juice in the ground and I'm sure Joseph will find another one now, as he always does."

Half an hour earlier, O'Brien was on the mark with another juvenile at York where Colin Keane guided the 16/1 newcomer Benjamin Hornigold to win the valuable Convivial Maiden Stakes. 

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes

1st
3/1
Tote €4.00 €1.40
2nd
3.25L
4/1
€2.20
3rd
shd
11/1
4th
0.5L
11/2
bf
4.25L
6/4Fav
About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.