Eye Of The Storm travelled like a dream throughout the Donnelly's Of Barna European Breeders Fund Maiden and barring accidents he looked the winner on his debut from some way out under Joseph O'Brien at Galway.

The chestnut son of Galileo was asked to go and win his race in the final furlong and he did enough on the testing surface to go away and beat Pearl Of Africa by two and three parts of a length.

Joseph O'Brien said of the Ballydoyle colt: "He won nicely and I hope he'll be a bit better on nicer ground. He's a lovely horse and he seems to be going the right."

Eye Of The Storm is a brother to Jim Bolger's useful handicapper Livia Galilei.

Racegoers at Ballybrit were informed of an excuse for favourite Magnolia Ridge (could manage only 6th). Pat Smullen reported that his mount became upset in the stalls and never improved in running. (DM & EM)