Alexandroupolis

Alexandroupolis was impressive in winning the opening maiden at Galway on Tuesday on his racecourse debut.  Settled in mid-division and along the inside rail early on by Wayne Lordan from his inside draw, he travelled well down the hill, but he still had five horses in front of him as they raced around the home turn.  Wayne Lordan had to sit for a few strides as he moved off the inside rail and looked for a gap, and, switched back towards the inside as they straightened up for home, the Camelot colt picked up really nicely when he got a gap.  He stayed on strongly towards the far side up the hill to pull almost two lengths clear of his rivals by the time he got to the winning line, with his stable companion Espionage staying on well down the near side to snatch second place.

The market couldn’t split the two Aidan O’Brien-trained runners, and Espionage did well too to keep on as well as he did to take second place.  He is interesting too, he could be better over further, but nothing travelled as well as his stable companion through the race.  Alexandroupolis is out of a half-sister to St Leger winner Kew Gardens, his grandam is Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Chelsea Rose, and he put up a really nice performance on his racecourse debut here, defying his weakness in the market.  He holds entries in the Beresford Stakes and in the Royal Lodge and in the Vertem Futurity Trophy.  Those races are all over a mile, and he will be of interest if he lines up in any of them.
Galway, 6th September 2022