Surpass performs as expected at Tipperary

After a strong debut for Aidan O'Brien at Tipperary, Surpass appears to be a colt certain to go on to larger and better things.

In the Tipperary Races Median Auction Maiden, the son of Saxon Warrior started as a 13-8 favourite and, although Ryan Moore had to encourage him early on, there was something to be pleased with about his finish as he won by a neck over 50-1 shot Shocker.

O’Brien’s representative, Chris Armstrong, said: “He is a work in progress, was still very babyish in the preliminaries and once he develops he will be a lovely horse. Ryan gave him a lovely introduction and they went a nice tempo throughout, which suited him. He could be one for the Tyros (Stakes) and while we don’t have many Saxon Warriors, the ones we have are very nice and the sire is having a good run of it at the moment. He is one to look forward to and we’ll see the best of him as a three-year-old.”

After winning the curtain-raiser Tipperary (C & G) Maiden, David Marnane is taking Sir Yoshi to Royal Ascot.

After finishing third on his first two runs at Dundalk and Cork, the Mehmas colt, who was a 9-4 favourite under Luke McAteer, struck gold again on his third attempt, finishing with gusto and defeating the front-running Passing Phase by half a length.