There was major disappointment for the touring Irish jockeys when the annual Australia v's Ireland Challenge Series got underway at Gawler in North Adelaide today.

The home side gained an early advantage when dominating the Fibber Magees Highweight flat race over 1950m, the traditional opener to the series and a race won last year by Donal Bromley.

King Royale, trained by Jeff Bugg and ridden by Gary Preston got the home side off to the best possible start, winning by ? length.

Although finishing only sixth, Shane McCann scored a valuable point for Ireland on 14/1 chance Come To Sea.

But the remaining points all went Australia's way, with Tom Hazlett third and Grant Young seventh, giving the Australians a 4 ? to one point lead after day one.

As the race was run on the flat, only half points were scored and the visitors expect to be in-front after two jump races at Morphetville on Saturday.

'We were unlucky with the way the draw worked out for us at Gawler, but we are only a few points down and I'm sure we can make it up on Saturday', said Shane McCann.

His team mates Joe Casey and Barry Cash were down the field, trailing in ninth and tenth respectively.

Philip Carberry could only watch the race from the stands as his mount was a late withdrawal.