Aidan O'Brien introduced another potentially smart juvenile as Italy quickened up nicely to make a winning debut in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Leopardstown.
A well-bred son of Wootton Bassett, big things were clearly expected of the debutant, who was supported from 8/11 right down to 4/9f.
Tracking the leaders in fourth in the initial stages, jockey Wayne Lordan was content to watch on, as Seamie Heffernan led the quintet on Thesecretadversary.
The latter looked to have stolen the race from the front when kicking a couple of lengths clear off the home bend but Lordan never panicked on the short priced market leader.
Ridden to go second over a furlong out, Italy quickened up smartly to draw alongside inside the last 100 yards, leading close home for a comfortable three-quarter-length success.
O’Brien said: “He was never away before so he would have been very green, and they went a good gallop.
“He has a bit of quality and Wayne gave him a lovely ride. He taught him plenty and he will have leaned a lot from that.
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