Former Champion Apprentice Gary Carroll got off the mark for trainer Ger Lyons with a win on Strada Colorato in the opening Naas Median Auction Maiden at Naas today.

The son of Le Vie Dei Colori improved to lead over a furlong out but wandered about in front allowing fast finishing 20/1 chance Lucciola to close right down on the winner at the line.

Afterwards Lyons said “Strada Colorato is a horse we like a lot – he pulled muscles high up behind when he ran at Leopardstown last year and we took it easy with him since and he has thanked us for it.

“The reason we came here today was because of the €10,000 Racing Post Yearling bonus - we thought we might as well go for it and also get his maiden.

“We think he's a nice horse and you could see when he got to the front, his ears pricked and he didn't know what to do. Thats the third horse I have had by the sire, who is now dead, and the first two were both stakes horses.”