Galveston and Gavin Ryan © Photo Healy Racing
Having failed to beat a single rival home when sent off odds-on favourite on his recent debut at this track. Galveston proved an altogether different proposition when landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Naas.
Sent straight to the front by Gavin Ryan, the Aidan O'Brien trained colt travelled nicely within himself, finding plenty for pressure when pressed early in the straight. Nuit and Local Lad emerged as strong threats over two furlongs out but Ryan found a willing partner who kicked from the front again over a furlong down.
Local Lad, who didn't get the clearest of passages, went second inside the final furlong, staying on but all too late.
Gavin Ryan said: “He’s a big, strong colt and was very good from the gates today to put himself into a good position from the get-go.
“He’s travelled around quite idle and was green and raw in front, so he’ll come on again from it.
“He’s had to do the donkey work the whole way. It’s a long way up the straight here and its proper yielding ground which is a bit testing for two-year-olds.
“He was probably looking for a bit of company but toughed it out well.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
