Signatory and Conor Stone Walsh win Dundalk maiden for trainer John Joseph Murphy. © Photo Healy Racing
The John Joseph Murphy trained Signatory provided further evidence that the stable has turned a corner after a quiet spell when running out a comfortable winner of the Bar One Racing Price Boosts All Channels Apprentice Maiden.
A son of Exceed And Excel, the colt had made a promising debut when runner-up over a mile at this track in January, before failing to back that effort up when only fifth at Killarney on his next start.
However, the Murphy stable were under something of a cloud at that time, with a number of horses running below par.
Now that normal service has been resumed, Signatory showed just what he is capable of with a nice performance in seeing off some well fancied opponents.
Always prominent under Conor Stone-Walsh on this drop back in trip, the colt led after a couple of furlongs and had his rivals in trouble when kicking on entering the straight. Not Forgotten stayed on best to go second close home, with 5-4f Agia back in third.
Conor Stone-Walsh said: "He was good, he had a good look around so there should be plenty of improvement left.
"I suppose I was in front plenty early as well and he is still raw, he has only had two runs. It worked out well, and he was good and hardy to the line.
"He is a big, strong colt so hopefully he can improve plenty.
"He loved it (surface) and wants good ground on the grass, top of the ground.
"He had a very good run the first day here, he was second. He was fifth in Killarney, but the race didn't really run to suit."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
