Venetian Power delivered a notable juvenile performance at Killarney, taking the Irish EBF Median Sires Series race and adding to the early-season promise around the yard of Joseph O’Brien.
Progression from debut to Killarney
The race represented a marked improvement on Venetian Power’s first outing, when he was beaten by six lengths by the unexposed Giant Sequoia. At Killarney, the colt was ridden to success by Dylan Browne McMonagle, who produced a late run to overhaul Full Volume and win by a half-length at odds of 9-2. Aidan O’Brien’s South Dakota, sent off as the odds-on favourite following a Chesham fourth, was never comfortable and finished third.
What the connections said
“He stepped forward well from the first day. We thought he would, his homework suggested that but it’s nice to see it here as well. He’s a lovely straightforward horse. The race worked out super for him ... He looks like a horse with a future and should be able to progress again,”
The comment came from stable representative Michael Halford, who outlined that the two-year-olds often improve noticeably after getting a racecourse experience under their belts.
Context and next targets
The Irish EBF Median Sires Series has been a stepping stone for high-class juveniles in recent seasons: previous winners include Luxembourg, Lambourn and last year’s runner-up in the Eclipse, A Boy Named Susie. Venetian Power’s connections have already kept ambitious plans in place, with entries listed for the valuable Ballyhane Stakes at Naas on 3 August and for two Group One contests on Irish Champions Weekend.
- Winner: Venetian Power (jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle) — won by half a length, 9-2
- Second: Full Volume
- Third: South Dakota (odds-on favourite)
| Position | Horse | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Venetian Power | Progressed from debut; entries for Ballyhane Stakes and two Group Ones |
| 2 | Full Volume | Led late, run down in closing stages |
| 3 | South Dakota | Odds-on favourite, never comfortable |
For local followers of racing, Venetian Power’s performance will be of interest both as an example of juvenile improvement and as a yardstick for upcoming juvenile contests in Ireland. The step into listed and Group company over the summer and autumn will show whether the colt can make the sort of progress that has previously marked winners of this series.
As always with two-year-olds, connections will now balance the colt’s immediate physical wellbeing and schooling with the opportunities offered by higher-grade targets later in the season.
