The grey Algonquin is driven out by Kevin Manning to beat Devonshire © Photo Healy Racing
The Jim Bolger trained Algonquin made it four wins in-a-row as he took the feature at Killarney this evening, the Listed Vincent O'Brien Ruby Stakes.
Having finished down the field on his debut at the Curragh last August the grey son of Archipenko sprang a 20/1 surprise when beating Sacrificial by a short head on his next start at Dundalk in October.
He won a valuable handicap on his seasonal debut at the Curragh on Derby weekend before following-up at Naas last month.
Available at 6/1 last night he was sent off a 9/2 chance having touched 5's on-course.
Settled in mid-division by Kevin Manning he made good ground on the outer in the early straight.
He was ridden to lead under two furlongs out and while he was strongly pressed by Devonshire inside the final furlong he battled gamely to prevail by a neck.
Devonshire, who was sent off the 11/4 joint-favourite, lost little in defeat under Billy Lee for Willie McCreery while the other joint-favourite Sacrificial kept on well into a never nearer third, three parts of a length back under Colin Keane for Ger Lyons.
Kevin Manning said afterwards: "He did it well and is progressing."
Kirsten Rausing and Jackie Bolger own the winner who holds an entry in the Tote Irish Cambridgeshire at the Curragh later this month.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
