Postulation pulls it out of the bag

Postulation just got up in the closing stages to land the odds in the opening race of the four day Killarney August Festival, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, scoring under Pat Smullen for Dermot Weld.

The American bred son of Harlan’s Holiday finished sixth behind Gleneagles on his debut at the Curragh in June and then found just Jamaica (fourth in a Group Two at York today) too good on his next start at Galway.

Having started at 4/6 this morning he was heavily supported throughout the day, opening on-course the clear 1/3 favourite, the price which he was returned.

Stepped up to a mile for the first time today he raced in second and made smooth progress to lead from two furlongs out.

He was soon ridden and was then headed on his outer by newcomer Archangel Raphael a furlong from home.

However he battled back gamely under a strong Smullen drive, getting up to win by a neck.

The aforementioned Archangel Raphael lost little in defeat and he was returned an 11/2 chance (was as short as 11/4 this morning) under Colm O’Donoghue for Aidan O’Brien.

Kris Weld said afterwards: "He was entitled to win. He had two good runs and he appreciated the step up in trip. I’d imagine he will come back to the Kingdom for the Nursery in Listowel."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes