Turret Rocks makes pleasing debut

The two horses with Group One entries dominated the opening mile maiden for juveniles in Gowran Park but it was the well-backed Turret Rocks who prevailed.

Jim Bolger 's Fastnet Rock filly wore a hood for this first racecourse appearance and was ponied to the start.

She broke away well to be prominent alongside even-money-favourite True Solitaire who raced along the rail.

As they raced past the five pole, Turret Rocks had her head in front on the outer. As the duo swept into the home straight Kevin Manning asked her to go on and win her race.

She held a definite advantage at the two marker and was driven by Manning to assert in the final furlong. Although she drifted left, Manning switched his whip to his left hand with 100 yards to go and the pair kept on to score by two lengths.

Jim Bolger said: "She could be good. She is a little bit highly strung but it was her first run. She comes from the family of Goldikova. She is smart and she could go anywhere. She wouldn't want soft ground.

"The Turret Rocks are around Vinegar Hill outside Enniscorthy."

The winner was backed at the track from 5/2 down to 15/8 on the off.

True Solitaire, on debut for Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen, took second. He was three and a quarter lengths in front of Uninhibited

Turret Rocks hold an entry in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes while True Solitaire is in the Group One National Stakes.

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy