Ernest Rutherford (11/4) took a good step forward from his debut fifth at Cork to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

Michael O’Callaghan’s Ardad colt, who cost E47,000 at a breeze-up sale in June, showed plenty of pace throughout as he tracked the leader Speedacus before being sent to the front by Leigh Roche entering the final furlong.

The field had edged across to race centre to stands’ side on the yielding to soft ground and the winner, from stall 10, went clear under the nearside rail to defeat Pepper Streak who had finished just in front of him at Cork, by two lengths, with Speedacus the same distance back in third.

The 15/8 favourite Neo Soul couldn’t land a blow on the leaders before keeping on into fourth.

The winner holds an entry in next month's Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.

“He’s a smart horse," said Roche.

“He ran a good race the first day but like all of ours he’s just taken a run.

“He was a bit keen in the first half of the race but I knew from a fair way out it was in the bag. He’s got there very easily, quickened up and hit the line very well.

“I just flicked him two to teach him. He’s going to improve and is definitely a black type horse.”

Quotes from Alan Magee