Fifth and fourth in his first two outings, Port Louis was very professional when landing the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden under Colin Keane.

Easy to back at 7/1 (from 7/2 this morning), the son of James Garfield tracked the leaders and challenged travelling well two furlongs out. In front soon after, he was ridden clear a furlong out and kept on well to score by two and a half lengths from Courageous Strike

“I thought he'd win so that was great,” said winning trainer Noel Meade who was completing a quick double after Zero Fighter in the claimer.

“Colin likes him and said he'll go another furlong. He's always shown us plenty and he had a good run at the Curragh the last day over six, which was a bit too short for him. We thought seven would suit him.

“He only cost six grand so he was getting in here with a low weight.

“I suppose we'll have to think about the sales race, the seven-furlong race in Naas at the end of the season.

“I think there is a winner's race here and he might come back for that.

“Unfortunately, Jimmy Kernohan, who is from Randalstown, is not here as his wife wasn't that well. He's one of our long-time owners and has been with me an awful long time.

“I think that's his first Flat horse, we wheeled him out in the middle of a bunch and he said 'I want him!'”

Quotes from Gary Carson