Stromberg easily lands maiden success for O'Brien/McMonagle The once-raced Stromberg improved on his debut second to run out a very easy winner of the Kinlay Hostel Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden at Galway. Runner-up at Leopardstown on his racecourse introduction last month, the Joseph O'Brien trained colt faced an easier task here but the manner of his success was impressive nonetheless. Held up by Dylan Browne McMonagle in the early stages, the colt briefly looked in trouble when shuffled back through the field before the straight but as soon as his jockey got to work, the winner made ground effortlessly around the outside of the field before stretching clear inside the final furlong. That win, a fifth of the week for McMonagle, confirmed him as the leading flat jockey at this years festival, for which he receives 2,000 euro and the Pat Smullen Memorial Trophy. The winning rider said: “It was a very messy race. I jumped a tad slow and the pace was down low. Coming down the hill I didn’t know whether to switch in or come around them but I knew my lad would pick up good and I didn’t want to get into any trouble. “When I did get him out he picked up really good. He’s sharpened up well from his first run and gets through that ground really well. I loved the way he galloped through the line. “I think there is plenty more improvement and he’s a lovely horse. “Five winners on a big week like this means a lot.” Additional reporting by Alan Magee
