Promising Churchill Colt Proves A Class Above

The well-bred Once Upon A River (2c Churchill - Cassandra Go, by Indian Ridge) ran out an impressive winner of Tuesday’s Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Roscommon.

Beaten just a neck on debut earlier this month, the Ger Lyons-trained colt was sent off favourite for the seven and a half furlong contest and made virtually all the running under Colin Keane. Two lengths clear when travelling well from three furlongs out, he was ridden the two furlong pole and kept on well to win by four lengths from Canters Well (Caravaggio) and Minister Of War (Churchill).

Speaking after the race, assistant trainer Shane Lyons said, “It's all about next year with him, as he's a very well-bred horse.”

Once Upon A River was bred by owner Trevor Stewart out of his King’s Stand Stakes heroine Cassandra Go, herself the dam of four Stakes horses, including blue hen Halfway To Heaven.