Sovereign expected to "climb the ladder" after Galway win

For those that sent off Ballydoyle's Sovereign an 8/15 chance, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Galway was a pleasurable watch.

On outing number three the Galileo colt soon bossed it from the front in this extended mile heat, and Donnacha O'Brien's mount asserted from over two furlongs out.

In the end Sovereign had fourteen lengths in hand over Elite Trooper Grey (9s into 6s).

Some of the competitiveness was taken away from the curtain-raiser with the defection of Tinandali owing to a stone bruise.

"He handled the ground and stays well," reported the winning rider.

"He is a big raw horse and I think he'll be a lovely horse next year going a mile and a half with a little ease in the ground.

"You'd be hoping he can climb the ladder now and he can't do much better than that."

(TW & EM)