John Oxx saddled his first winner of this Flat season when Arch Sting stayed on well in Gowran Park's mile maiden.

The 7/4 favourite jumped away smartly from gate nine to lead under Declan McDonogh.

The pair were pressed by Big Country passing the two pole. However, they still held a narrow lead coming to the final furlong. McDonogh went for the whip and his mount put the race away 150 yards out.

They pulled away by a length and a half at the line from Ace Of Diamonds This foiled a major plunge on the runner-up who was backed from 13/2 to 3/1 this morning and who went off a 2/1 chance.

Ace Of Diamonds came through to edge Big Country (8/1) into third by a neck.

John Oxx said: “He did it well. He had good form and had a good run at Dundalk last year. He ran okay on his run back and with the favourite coming out he had a favourites chance.

“He won nicely. I was worried about the ground but he got through it well. We'll keep him to seven or a mile, he doesn't want to go any further.

“Obviously he's a bit more versatile ground-wise than I expected. He's rated 76 and I don't think he'll go up much for that. We'll look for a handicap or a rated race.

“I've had very few horses with a wining chance before today. I only have 12 or 14 three-year-olds so don't have the ammunition.

“Early in the year you need good horses to win in Ireland and i just didn't have them.

“The two-year-olds have started quite well and I think the second half of the year will be good.

“The horses are in good health there has been nothing wrong with them.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson