Forza Toro emulates brother in winning Dundalk maiden

The Johnny Feane trained Forza Toro emulated his full-brother Anatoli when gaining a first career success in the View Restaurant At Dundalk Stadium Median Auction Maiden at Dundalk.

The latter horse, also trained by Feane, had made a winning racecourse debut at the same track back in 2021.

Forza Toro shaped with distinct promise on his initial outing at Gowran Park in September, getting to the front over a furlong out before lack of experience proved his downfall.

Sent off a well backed 5/6f (from 2/1), the colt tracked the leaders into the straight under Ronan Whelan before being sent on over a furlong out.

Soon clear, the Feane trained juvenile stayed on well to win by four lengths.

Johnny Feane said: "He had a nice run the first day and that was just sort of an ideal opportunity for him today.

"He'll go on good ground. He's a good-actioned horse and he'll certainly go on good ground.

"He stayed the seven well, he could probably step up in time. He has a lot of class.

"I think we have run a couple of two-year-olds this year and both of them have won - Fregada and him - so they are two exciting horses.

"The form worked out (in Gowran Park, winner then finished second in a Group 2 at Doncaster).

"There was a couple of 70-rated horses and Ronan said they weren't good enough to lead him. It is a nice thing to say about him.

"Possibly not (anything here for him the rest of the year) - we will talk to the owner and make a plan, turf and Polytrack.

"He's just a good horse."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham.