Emporio sheds maiden tag with decisive late burst

Emporio lost his tag as one of the highest rated maidens in training when taking the concluding Finlay Volvo Irish EBF Median Auction Maiden at the Curragh.

The well-backed 15/8 favourite, who held an official mark of 100 after a number of useful efforts including when fifth in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, was short of room at the furlong pole.

However, Gavin Ryan engineered a gap between horses and his mount soon shot clear to score by four lengths. Diamil took the runner-up spot with Notre Belle Bete a further half-a-length back in third.

The places were confirmed following a stewards enquiry.

Winning trainer Donnacha O'Brien said, "He has loads of ability. In fairness Gavin gave him a peach, he came down through them and the more trouble he got into the more he was loving it.

“He was fifth in an Irish Guineas so he should be winning an auction maiden and in fairness he won it very impressively.

“He's in an awkward position as it's hard to find a handicap for him, he'd have big weights in them, so I suppose we might go back in Stakes company with him.”

(GC & AM)