Steps leads home Ballydoyle 1, 2

Spanish Steps led home a 1, 2 for Aidan O'Brien in the feature at Leopardstown this evening, the Group 3 GRENKE Finance Ballyroan Stakes.

Having won his maiden on his fourth start at Gowran in June, the son of Galileo since finished last of nine in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris at Saint-Cloud.

Available at 14/1 in a place this morning, the Seamie Heffernan ridden colt opened on-course at 8s before going off a 6/1 chance.

Soon in front, he went a few lengths clear on the entrance to the straight, and kept on well under pressure from over a furlong out, going on to score by half a length. Johannes Vermeer who was sent off the 4/5 favourite, attempted to reel-in his stable mate inside the final furlong, but ultimately had to settle for second under Ryan Moore.

The front two went two and a half lengths clear of Stellar Mass who was third.

O'Brien said afterwards: "We always liked him and felt he would be comfortable at a mile and a half. We always thought he would be comfortable on nice ground. We were going to go to Goodwood and then the ground changed.

"He's a bit green and babyish but is a good colt. Seamie was happy to go along, and we would see if Johannes Vermeer was able to pick him up. He was getting a lot of weight.

"Seamie gave him a very good ride. He was left alone in front and was gone turning in.

"He could go for the Voltigeur next at York.

"Johannes Vermeer could go down to Australia for a race there."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee