Ballydoyle's one time Epsom Derby hope and jaw-droppingly expensive purchase Sir Isaac Newton belatedly gained his maiden success at Gowran today, comfortably winning the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, under Seamie Heffernan.

The son of Galileo was purchased for all of 3,600,000gns at Tattersalls (England) as a yearling but was beaten on debut last October as 8/11 favourite, admittedly by Derby contender Zawraq, before being over-turned at 1/6 on his seasonal reappearance in a maiden at Chester on May 6.

That defeat effectively ended an Epsom aspirations but today's performance was much more encouraging, as he stayed on strongly inside the final furlong for a three and a quarter length win over Stop And Linger

Winning trainer Aidan O'Brien wasn't present but jockey Heffernan later stated "he's one that we have always liked and that was expected. I expect more progress.

"A mile and a quarter might end up being his ideal trip."

Sir Isaac Newton has entries in numerous top Group races; St James's Palace Stakes, Ballycorus Stakes, King Edward VII Stakes, Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, International Stakes, Coral-Eclipse Stakes, Qatar Sussex Stakesand QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes.

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee