Winston Spencer wins for Meade and Roche

Leigh Roche has built up a decent partnership with trainer Noel Meade in recent times and the duo combined with Winston Spencer to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden at Leopardstown.

A promising seventh on his racecourse debut over 7f at the Curragh last month, the Churchill colt subsequently missed an intended engagement at Limerick due to testing conditions.

However, faced with faster ground and an additional furlong here, the Meade trained colt showed the benefit of that initial experience to run out a game winner under Roche.

Settled just off the pace, Winston Spencer was produced to head leader Dawn Session well inside the final furlong, before keeping on strongly close home.

“His full-brother ran in the first, he's a totally different horse, smaller and sharper, and Leigh came in and said he didn't like that ground, he said he couldn't let himself down on it. I said hopefully with this fella, after waiting for the ground, it wasn't going to be the same,” said Meade.

“I like him a lot. He ran well the first day, he just got tired. I thought he had come on a good bit and I think he'll come on a good bit again. I think he's a decent horse.

“Leigh said he ran home very well at the end and he took plenty of pulling up.

“He's a very well-bred horse, Coolmore bred him. His dam is a full-sister to Danehill Dancer.

“I've sort of put my life on Churchill as I bought five two-year-olds by him and I've got four three-year-olds by him. Hopefully he comes right for me.

“I thought Winston Spencer was a good name for this horse.

“I hadn't thought any further than today with him, we'll see what happens.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson