Knight To King makes eye-catching winning debut at Gowran Park

Dermot Weld appears to have a smart prospect on his hands after the well-bred Knight To King made an eye-catching winning debut at Gowran.

By Kingman out of Nightime, a Galileo mare who won the Irish 1,000 Guineas for Weld, the newcomer could not have been any more impressive in the Kings Of Ossory (C&G) Maiden.

Sent into an early advantage by Chris Hayes, once into the final two furlongs, he just pulled further and further clear.

The 10-11 favourite ended up coming home seven and a half lengths clear of the Ger Lyons-trained My King, also owned by Newtown Anner Stud Farm Ltd.

"He's a really nice colt, he had been working exceptionally well. All the family take a little bit of time and we’re in no hurry with him," said Weld.

"He’s come forward in the last few weeks. He’s a very good actioned horse, so I didn’t bother with him in the spring on heavy ground. Please God, we’ve lots to look forward to.

"It’s a great family for us and he’s always shown us talent. He was very immature, mentally and physically but he’s coming forward nicely.

"I’ll have a chat with Maurice Regan and we’ll decide where we go with him. I won’t make any decision until I see how he comes home and comes out of the race.

"Obviously we’ll go into stakes level with him now, there are many ideas in my mind.

"He’s very straightforward and I said if there was no pace to make the running on him. The one thing we didn’t want was a messy race with no pace.