Coyle returns to local track for his first Group success

Naas native Tony Coyle cut his teeth in Ireland a few years back riding successfully as a conditional over jumps for Paddy Mullins and Tom Foley, and the gradual success of his training operation at Malton received a big boost when stable star Caspian Prince landed the Group 2 Friarstown Stud Sapphire Stakes.

Allowed to stride on early by Declan McDonogh, it looked curtains when fellow Brit and favourite Marsha loomed up to challenge a furlong out, but he found plenty and in a bobbing finish had his head in front on the line, following up his victory in the Dash at Epsom last month which had given the trainer his previous biggest win.

"He was that quick out of the stalls that the saddle shifted a bit!" said McDonogh.