Mano Chicago

(Johnny Murtagh)

Gowran Park, June 16th

The Parthenon collected as the market expected, being 4/11 favourite, in the opening seven-furlong juvenile maiden at Gowran last Sunday. There’s every chance the third-placed Mano Chicago looks up to joining him as a maiden winner too if improving as expected from his first start under rules (previously third in a Naas barrier trial last month). A €40,000 yearling by Study Of Man, out of a half-sister to Australian Group 1 performer Zaaki, he had a little ground to make up on the winner turning in and couldn’t reduce the deficit, but he did shape as though he’d be comfortable stepping up to a mile (his dam was at her best over a mile and a half).

Akecheta

(Kevin Coleman)

Gowran Park, June 17th

Akecheta proved there was no fluke about her 40/1 debut win at the age of four when catching the eye in second behind Glor Tire at Gowran (in a fillies’ race restricted to horses who haven’t won more than one weight-for-age race, and haven’t been placed in a listed or group race). Giving 11lb to the Jim Bolger-trained winner, who had the advantage of 10 more runs than her, she was never able to get on terms but impressed in how she saw this out and looks to have options in terms of trip. Having won over seven furlongs on debut, she looked perfectly comfortable over nine and a half furlongs here and can add to her tally over the summer. A strongly-run race ought to play to her strengths.

Vadali

(Mick Halford and Tracey Collins)

Gowran Park, June 17th

The 84-rated Master Of The Hunt made use of his experience when ridden handily on his way to a mile-maiden success at Gowran Park, and the form has a reasonably solid look to it with an 81-rated runner-up from a wide draw. Positioned further back than that duo, there were positives to take from the run of the third-placed Vadali, who pulled well clear of the fourth and looks to be on the up for Mick Halford, Tracey Collins and the Aga Khan.

This was his second decent effort since returning in 2024, and he appeared to be effective on this better surface than last time. If continuing on this upward trajectory, he can win a maiden in the next month or so.

Nunc Est Bibendum

(Sonny Carey)

Gowran Park, June 17th

Sonny Carey had only saddled three individual runners on the flat in his career before sending out Nunc Est Bibendum in a fillies’ median auction maiden over a mile, and that rare runner on the level represented the trainer well. Connections have been patient with this €13,000 yearling purchase by Masar, and she outran her odds of 66/1 when beaten just three and a half lengths in sixth. Drawn wider than ideal in stall 11, she would have learned from this experience of coming between runners in the straight and didn’t look a spent force at the line. Expect her to improve from this nice introduction.

Va Va Vroom

(Jessica Harrington)

Gowran Park, June 17th

It shouldn’t be any issue for Va Va Vroom to win a maiden on the evidence of what she showed when flying home for second behind Ballydoyle-trained winner January (1/2 favourite) in a seven-furlong fillies’ maiden at Gowran. This Jessica Harrington-trained two-year-old by Bated Breath had advertised her potential when first past the post in a barrier trial at Naas last month, and she took another step forward here, despite being beaten. The winner got first run on her and there was no shame in this effort.