It wasn't difficult to see where Dermot Weld's "it was a very nice performance. He's a lovely big colt," comment came from in the aftermath of Titus winning debut in the Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. (C & G) Maiden at Leopardstown.

Pat Smullen donned the Khalid Abdullah silks on the Dansili colt and he held the strong-finishing Ballydoyle first-timer, Venice Beach by half a length. The experienced favourite Clongowes was a length back in third.

Unfortunately Venice Beach's stable companion Oedipus Rex sustained a very serious injury in the closing stages.

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"He did one or two nice pieces of work at home and I was very pleased with him. I thought he'd run a very nice race and that's what he's done," reported Weld on Titus.

"He's a very big colt and a horse with a lot of potential.

"He'll probably appear in a classic trial towards the end of April or early May. What his distance will be next year I'm not sure. He's a colt with plenty of pace anyway.

"He'll always want good ground and that's one of the reasons we came here for the nice ground.

"He's 16'2 and what I like about him is that for a horse that will probably stay well he has plenty of pace. I would expect him to be a stakes horse next year.

"He has an awful lot to learn as he's never been away before. It's all new to him and he's a gorgeous big horse."

The Stewards received a report from Ms.Joan Taylor, Turf Club Veterinary Officer, that World Tax War trained by Mrs. John Harrington, appeared on the passport as a colt despite being a gelding. Having considered the report, the Stewards fined the trainer €130, in accordance with Rule 148(vi).

D. O'Brien, rider of Oedipus Rex, trained by A.P.O'Brien, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount accidentally sustained an injury in running.

(GC & EM)