Monkeylou gets off to a winning start© Photo Healy Racing
Gordon Elliott could have another very useful juvenile on his hands as Monkeylou burned his rivals off in the extended six furlong auction maiden at Listowel.
The Dream Ahead colt holds entries in the Group Two Railway Stakes and Group One Phoenix Stakes.
He was a warm order to score on debut as he was sent off the 5/4 favourite.
Pat Smullen was on board and raced him in fourth. The pair closed on the leaders approaching the final furlong and hit the front in the final 150 yards.
From there, Monkeylou quickened away well to score by two and three quarter lengths. Drombeg Dream (10/1) came home second, half a length in front of gambled-on Vicky Cristina She contracted to 9/2 from an opening show of 7/1.
Pat Smullen said: "He is a lovely horse and the boys were all very confident beforehand and his homework was good.
"It is a bit of an ask to win first time around Listowel and even on the turn he showed inexperience when I had to sit and get organised.
"To be fair, he hit the furlong pole really strong and his last furlong was his strongest. He is a horse with plenty of ability.
"He is a beautiful, good-looking horse and has plenty physical strength to him and is mature but, that said, it takes a decent horse to win first-time around Listowel."
Monkeylou is owned by the Nick Bradley Racing Club.
Elliott introduced Beckford to win on debut at the Curragh last month. He is now a possible for Royal Ascot.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
