Pricey point-to-point purchase Dlauro dazzles on debut for Joseph O'Brien

Big-money point-to-point purchase Dlauro could hardly have been more impressive as he made a winning debut under rules on Wednesday.

The six-year-old son of Lauro topped the Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham Sale in February 2018 when bought by trainer Joseph O'Brien for £410,000.

Dlauro owed his bumper price-tag to the fact that he had made all for an easy victory between the flags at Belharbour for previous handler Donnchadh Doyle in the weeks before the auction.

View result and watch race replay

Doyle had given just £33,000 for the bay from the Sewstern Grange consignment at the Goffs UK Spring Store Sale in 2016.

Dlauro was always travelling sweetly under Derek O'Connor on his delayed first start in the 2m½f bumper for O'Brien and new owner Lloyd Williams, and with barely any effort expended he drew clear for an 11-length victory.

Having had their appetites whetted with that flash of brilliance, jumps fans will have to endure another long wait to see the horse again as he is set for a break.

“Dlauro won very well,” reported O'Brien after the race. “He was a bit keen early on and it lit him up a bit but he has learned plenty.

“It was a bit of a surprise to see him win that well but he's a lovely horse. He'll have the summer off now.”

Dlauro looks set to be a flagbearer for Lauro, a Grade 2-winning and Grade 1-placed son of Monsun out of a half-sister to German great Lando – sire of high-class jumpers such as Air Force One, Caracciola and Fox Norton.

Lauro formerly stood at a variety of studs in France – where Dlauro was bred – but was acquired last year by Eamonn Duignan to stand at his Hayes Stud in County Meath. Weatherbys reports that he covered 72 mares in his first Irish book.

Dlauro was bred by Patrick Pauron and Jean-Francois Bedu out of the Bad Conduct mare Gergovie De Bussy, winner of a four-year-old AQPS race over 1m7f at Saint Brieuc in 1998. The dam has produced three other winners including Tepalo (by Epalo), a Sligo maiden hurdle winner for Tony Martin.

Dlauro serves as another reminder that older broodmares can still produce classy performers, as Gergovie De Bussy was 18 when he was conceived.

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