€440,000 buy Denmark made 33-1 for 2023 Derby after debut win for Aidan O'Brien

Monday: Naas

Denmark has been introduced as a general 33-1 shot for next year's Derby after an impressive winning debut.

Trained by Aidan O'Brien, the Camelot colt landed the mile maiden in very impressive style under Ryan Moore, albeit showing obvious signs of greenness. He quickened in good style when meeting the rising ground in the straight to win by three and a quarter lengths.

The two-year-old spooked a little at the road crossing after the winning line, ejecting Ryan Moore from the saddle, but both were none the worse.

O'Brien said: "He's still a big baby but we're delighted with him. He was very green but he's a lovely horse. He's a fine big fella.

"We'll go gently with him and give him a little bit of time but we couldn't be happier with him."

A €440,000 purchase as a yearling, Denmark holds entries in the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh later this month and the Group 1 National Stakes at the same track on Irish Champions Weekend in September.

Impressive performance

On a day where Aidan O’Brien potentially ran a star of the future in Denmark, it was his son Joseph who took the plaudits at Naas when Voce Del Palio claimed the feature Ballyhane Stakes.

Sent off 28-1 under Declan McDonogh and owned by the trainer's mother Annemarie, the son of Bated Breath did not seem fazed by the step down to 6f and bagged connections €148,500 with victory in the richest race run at the track.

The two-year-old didn’t get the cleanest of runs through from stall three, but once in the clear he found plenty on the stiff uphill finish to run out a good winner.

Voce Del Palio (Declan McDonogh) wins the Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes.Naas.Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post01.08.2022Credit: Patrick McCann

O’Brien said: "He’s been a very good horse. His price was a little bit disrespectful to him I thought. Declan gave him a lovely ride and he handled the drop back to 6f pretty well. We weren't entirely sure about the drop in trip but he seemed to handle that well. I'd say we'll go for the Sportsman's race here next with him."

It was McDonogh’s 36th winner of the campaign and after landing the €300,000 race he said: "He’s a hardy horse. He had runs behind him coming in here and I spoke about this race a few weeks ago with Joseph and we thought it was a nice spot for him. He came really strong at halfway and I could go wherever I wanted then. He really finished out the race well."

Nice prospect

Gan Teorainn built on a promising debut at Down Royal when landing the opening mile fillies maiden for Jim Bolger.

The daughter of Saxon Warrior gained a lovely position from stall five and picked off longtime leader Dame Kiri inside the final furlong to win by two and a half lengths.

Winning rider Kevin Manning said: "She did that very well. I was happy enough where I was sitting as I was following the right horse. She picked up well when meeting the rising ground and saw it out to the line.

"Whatever she does as a two-year-old will be a bonus, she’s a real three-year-old in the making."

It was a poignant success for the trainer on the day his brother Paddy's funeral took place.

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