Captain Cullen has attracted a fair share of support in the market on his outings to date and indeed he has performed with credit in four efforts. However a change to the all-weather at Dundalk proved the winning key for the Strategic Prince juvenile as he landed division two of the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Median Auction Maiden.

A strapping sort, Captain Cullen found a great change of gear down the outside under Colin Keane, eventually defeating Rogue Element

Gerry Keane trains Captain Cullen for Lisa Sheridan and he said: "He's a nice horse and he'll get an entry for the Birdcatcher at Naas (on October 16th), though the ground might be too soft for him then.

"He's got his maiden now and the bonus (£10K Racing Post Yearling Bonus scheme) and the plan all along was to get the bonus.

"We'll look at the Birdcatcher now and I don't know about after that."

Keane concluded by joking: "It could be Hong Kong for him then."

A gamble on the Charlie Swan-trained, Justin Carthy (bookmaker) owned You Got Heart (20s into 7s) went astray as she could only manage fifth.