Mark Nunan
No hangover for Etna Rosso supporters
Etna Rosso
© Photo Healy Racing
Well backed off course from as big as 9/2 this morning, the 11/8 favourite Etna Rosso made a winning debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.
It was a Limerick maidens double for Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle after Gambe Veloci
The Decorated Knight colt, who had a spin in a barrier trial last term, sat second to St Faz before heading the leader two furlongs out. From that point, he was kept up to his work to account for that rival by two lengths.
Browne McMonagle said: "He is a lovely horse who was working well at home and it was very straightforward.
"He stays well and was a little bit green when rolling around up the straight but every time Leigh (Roche, on runner-up St Faz) came to me, he picked up again.
"He was getting stuck in the ground a couple of times and lost momentum a bit but it was more greenness than anything. On a better surface you'll definitely see a better horse."
Etna Rosso is a red wine made from two types of Nerello grapes.
Quotes from Tom Weekes