Tigris River (left) comes to head Special Tiara in the closing stages© Photo Healy Racing
Tigris River justified odds-on favouritism as he took the opener at Killarney this evening, the John Buckley Auctioneers Maiden, scoring under Joseph O’Brien for his father Aidan.
The son of Montjeu was last seen finishing fourth to Fascinating Rock at Leopardstown over a mile and a quarter in March and stepped up to a mile and six this evening he was sent off the clear 4/5 favourite having opened at 4/6 on-course.
Settled in mid-division he made progress on the inner into fifth four furlongs out and travelled well into third two furlongs from home.
He came with his challenge a furlong out and he was ridden to lead inside the final 100 yards, keeping on well close home to score by a length and three parts. Special Tiara who led after two furlongs, finished second at 4/1 under Declan McDonogh for Henry De Bromhead (backed from 7’s on-course), while Macnicholson was a further length and a half back in third under Fran Berry for Jessica Harrington at 12/1.
Joseph O'Brien said afterwards: "He was a bit keen going down to the start so I dropped him in a bit more than I was going to. They went a nice even gallop.
"He doesn’t find too much off the bridle so I wanted to hold on to him as long as I could. He has one short burst.
"He leads the likes of Australia at home and it is nice to see him get a maiden. It is beautiful safe ground out there."
Aidan O’Brien has dominated this race in recent years and he was recording his sixth win this evening in the last seven years.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
