Saint Brandon beats Red Scarlet © Photo Healy Racing
Saint Brandon (4/1 fav) and Red Scarlet were to the fore throughout in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden and the former, having raced in second, headed Red Scarlet just inside the furlong pole to score by half-a-length.
In a race where few got into it, Gangsta Man got into contention on the inside rail in the closing stages but was a further neck away in third at the line.
Following Betsen in the second, it was a quick double for Billy Lee on the Craig Bryson-owned son of Saxon Warrior who had been runner-up in another leg of this series at the Galway festival.
Winning trainer Natalia Lupini said: "This horse ran well in Galway and he also put up a nice performance in Naas the last time over six furlongs. Billy was just saying the run sharpened him up a bit.
"He jumped smart and got into the race nicely. He quickened well and he stayed on, and he put up a good battle to win.
"I think our next option would be the final of the series in Naas over seven furlongs. He wouldn't mind a cut in the ground, so we are hoping he would be a good candidate to run in that race. With a bit of luck he will pick up a bit of prize money.
"He's a very nice, honest horse and always a happy horse. He's a pleasure to train."
Quotes from Michael Graham
