Donal Murphy
O'Brien breezes to quick double on Wind
North Wind comes home a clear winner under Donnacha O'Brien
© Photo Healy Racing
After taking the opener on Focus Of Attention Donnacha O'Brien quickly doubled-up on North Wind in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
Trained by Aidan O'Brien, this son of No Never Nay was last seen setting the pace in the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket.
Back in maiden company this evening he was expected to get off the mark, going to post the clear 4/9 favourite.
Sent straight to the front, the bay victor made all. He was pushed along and soon went clear from over a furlong out, keeping on well under pressure inside the final furlong, going on to score by three lengths. Dragons Call (14/1) kept on to take second under Shane Foley for Johnny Feane, while the Darren Bunyan trained newcomer Pass The Vino (14/1) was a short head away in third.
"He was rated like he should win a maiden and he did thank God. I think he might be progressing," said the winning rider.
"He gave me a nice feel and hopefully he's going the right way. I thought he was more of a five furlong horse but he seemed to get the six well today and we'll see where he goes now."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson