Sandy Creek easily lands maiden for O'Brien and McDonogh

Sandy Creek easily justified favouritism with a dominant display under Declan McDonogh in the Fairways Hotel Dundalk Maiden at the County Louth track.

The daughter of Frankel had let her supporters down when sent off odds-on over a furlong longer at Gowran Park last time with those that took the skinny price getting their fingers burnt.

Back down in trip here and racing on a sounder surface, McDonogh kept it simple on the Joseph O'Brien trained winner.

Quickly away from a wide draw, the former champion jockey settled his mount just off the pace, biding his time before moving up to head leader Agia over a furlong out. Once asked to go and win her race, Sandy Creek showed a smart turn of foot to surge four-and-half lengths clear.

Declan McDonogh said: "The pace was on today, there was a bit of competition for the lead and it just took a while to slot in and get a position.

"I got a little breather into her before the turn and I thought she stayed well today and got to the line good.

"She handled the surface well and deserved that. She loved that surface and I'd say fast ground is probably something she has to have. It was good to see her handle that track well."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham