Ottoman Emperor holds sway for Murtagh and Coen

Ottoman Emperor (5/2) won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden (Div I) in the hands of Ben Coen.

The Excelebration colt, an encouraging sixth behind the now 101-rated Sir Lamorak on his debut at Dundalk last month, got a nice run through from mid-division along the rail and hit the front a furlong out.

The 2/1 favourite Max Mayhem came down the outer to give chase but was held by three quarters of a length at the line.

The winner had run second for Cormac Farrell in a couple of barrier trials at Dundalk last year before joining present trainer Johnny Murtagh. He runs in the colours of Australian ownership group OTI racing.

Winning rider Ben Coen said: “He is still plenty green and came on a lot from Dundalk. He loves good ground, did it well there and will probably improve again.

"That is probably his ideal trip and hopefully he will keep improving. I think he is a good ground horse but might handle a little ease.

“He’s still plenty raw travelling in between horses. He was kind of on and off it the whole way but once I got the gaps he took them to be fair, and even when Shane Crosse came to me on the second (Max Mayhem) he went again for me. He found an extra gear when he heard him coming so you like to see that in them anyway.

“The ground is probably good to firm, it’s quick enough. He loved it but it’s quick enough for horses that want a bit of a cut in it.”

Quotes from Thomas Weekes