East India wins the opener ahead of Portage© Photo Healy Racing
Unraced East India was heavily backed in the ring before the seven furlong juvenile maiden and he was cheered home by his supporters as he showed a good turn of foot in getting off the mark at the Curragh.
He was one of three Aidan O’Brien runners in the race, with his stablemate St Patricks Day sent off the 4/6 favourite having run second on debut in Naas. When East India was chalked up by bookies at the track at 9/1 his price quickly tumbled to 11/2 on the off. I Will Excel the most experienced horse in the race, bounced out and dictated the fractions. Seamie Heffernan settled East India in sixth before taking closer order into second at the furlong pole. He powered home and collared I Will Excel under 100 yards out and won by a neck from Portage who stayed on strongly to press the winner close home.
This was Portage’s debut as well. Mick Halford’s colt cut through the field from eighth two furlongs out. He went down by a neck at 14/1, but was a length and a quarter in front of I Will Excel (7/1). St Patricks Day couldn’t land a blow in seventh.
Aidan O’Brien said: “I’m delighted. He was working like a nice horse and was just ready to start. Seamus took his time on him and relaxed him in the first half of the race. The idea was to give him a nice education and see what happens.
“He picked up really well and you couldn’t be happier with him. He’s a very well-bred horse. We’ll look for a winners’ or Listed race for him. He has the Futurity and races like that.
“Obviously he’s a horse that will get further than seven furlongs so we’ll see what comes up. He won’t have any bother stepping up I would say.”
This race was won by Australia last year. He was this year’s Epsom and Irish Derby hero.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
