EBRO RIVER (IRE) (Galileo Gold x Soft Power), a 2-year-old colt who represents the Al Shaqab Racing silks, took the Listed National Stakes, a Class 1 sprint over the shortest distance for 2YOs, at Sandown on Thursday, 27 May, evening, earning an early black-type success. This was a second consecutive success for this precocious colt in his third career-start, following on from his win at Doncaster on 15 May in the Restricted Novices’ Stakes over five furlongs (1,000 meters).

Partnered by jockey James Doyle at Sandown, EBRO RIVERwas back over the five-furlong trip. He missed the break, losing a length on the field. However, he made up ground quickly on the rail to get into mid-division, taking a keen hold. Moving progressively up, he arrived at the 2-furlongpost just on the flanks of the pacesetter, LITTLE EARL (IRE)(Havana Gold x Majestic Alexander). The son of GalileoGold, Galileo Gold, then began to show his devastating turn of foot, pulling a length clear of his rivals with 200 meters still left to run. Despite drifting across the track towards the stand, he stormed to a 3¼ length victory. LITTLE EARLfinished second for trainer Ray Dawson and jockey Robert Cowell while the George Boughey-trained and Nicola Currie-ridden NAVELLO (IRE) (Ivawood x Caprella) was a further ¾ length in third.

“He is tricky, there’s no getting away from that” said Doyle, “But the guys have done a super job with him. He’s always shown a lot in his gallops. He does have that trademark of just running around when he gets to the front, but that’s something he should grow out of. We missed the break, and I just urged him slightly to creep closer to them, which lit him up a bit. The runners then moved off the fence, so I had no cover, so it was a little bit messy. But he’s super talented.”

This talented 2-year-old is trained by Hugo Palmer in Newmarket. He was bred by Tally-Ho Stud, who stand his sire Galileo Gold on behalf of Al Shaqab Racing.

Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club