Deepone and Billy Lee win from Instant Appeal and Star Hunter for trainer Paddy Twomey© Photo Healy Racing
Deepone made an impressive racecourse debut, landing some tidy bets in the process, when staying on best to win the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Leopardstown.
The Paddy Twomey trained colt was clearly expected to put up a bold show, given he was the subject of strong support from double digits into 3/1f.
Despite an unfavourable draw in stall 17, Billy Lee had the Study Of Man colt away smartly and settled in mid division for the early part of the contest.
Taking closer order turning into the straight, Deepone was delivered with a strong challenge down the centre of the track over a furlong out, before quickening up smartly to move clear of his rivals.
“He's a nice colt and he was ready to start today. Being drawn 17 I thought that he'd have to be good to win from out there and it was great that he did,” said Twomey.
“He's a nicely bred horse, he's a Study Of Man who was a very good racehorse and a very well-bred horse, out of a Galileo mare whose dam won the Yorkshire Oaks.
“It's great to have Vimal as an owner, it's my first runner for him. We bought the horse at the sales.”
When asked if he could go to Ascot he added:- “We'll see how he is, there is a race there that might suit him. I haven't thought past today but if that happens, great.
“He's by a son of Deep Impact who was a Derby winner out of a daughter of a Yorkshire Oaks winner so I don't think a trip will be a problem to him.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson