Gobi Star, blue and black, hits the front© Photo Healy Racing
Gobi Star reeled in front-running Pulse Of Shanghai to win the opening six-furlong claimer on Polytrack debut at Dundalk.
Eddie Lynam 's charge raced in rear of mid-division and took closer order in the final quarter of a mile. He was soon switched to the inner by Chris Hayes and came with his challenge a furlong down.
He was ridden into the lead in the final 150 yards and was kept up to his work to score by half a length at 5/1 from the 8/1 runner-up. Majestic Colt was two and a quarter lengths back in third at 11/1.
Lynam said: “He seemed to relish the surface. We always thought he'd want a cut in the ground but he loved that surface, he does train on it at home to be fair. He did it well today so I'm very pleased.
“He could be claimed and I'll probably put a friendly claim in for him. He's a good sort of horse.
“It's nine for the year for Trevor (Dalzell, owner) so it would be nice to get him 10.
“I think that's his career-best run if you analyse his form. He took a long time to win a maiden and the form of some of his maidens were ordinary enough.
“Some of the others had ratings, but it's a question of whether they are running to them. If he went up for that, it might put you off claiming him.
"It was good to get a winner.”
Gobi Star had previously won a five-furlong maiden at Down Royal in September.
Pat Martin claimed Gobi Star while John McConnell claimed Inflection Point and James McAuley claimed Pulse Of Shanghai.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
