Thursday, 20 September 2018: Group Three at Leopardstown likely to be next step

Old Glory  got his career off to the perfect start in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Naas on Wednesday evening.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Frankel juvenile cost 1.6million euro as a yearling and looked extremely useful when asked to quicken on the outside of runners two furlongs out by Donnacha O’Brien.

While he did not go clear as had seemed likely at one stage, he kept on well to beat long-time leader Erich Bloch by a length and a half as the 6-4 favourite.

O’Brien said: “We thought he was ready to come racing and he would come forward plenty. The lads close to him always liked him.

“Donnacha said he travelled very well, and did everything right. We would like to go steady, and he could go for the Group Three Kilavullan Stakes at Leopardstown.

“He’s a horse that will stay much further than seven furlongs.”

The O’Briens had struck earlier when All The King’s Men (4-7 favourite) won the five-furlong maiden with some authority.

The No Nay Never colt was to the fore throughout and quickened away over a furlong out to score by three lengths from stablemate Never No More, who is by the same sire.

O’Brien said of the winner: “Donnacha said he’s a fast horse. He went to Listowel and the soft ground got him. He wants a nice bit of ground – I’d say that is the key to him.”