Aidan O’Brien’s highly anticipated two-year-old colt, Galveston, fell short of expectations in his debut at Naas, finishing last in a seven-horse field despite being the $1.67 favourite with betting sites.
Purchased for an eye-watering £2 million as a yearling, Galveston was beaten by 8.25 lengths by the surprise winner, Call Me Captain.
The upset proved to be a dream result for bookmakers, as Galveston finished well behind the second-last horse, Washington Street, who was also favoured at $5. In contrast, Call Me Captain, purchased for just €18,000, delivered an outstanding performance to claim the win.
Craig Bryson, representing trainer Natalia Lupini’s stable, praised Call Me Captain’s victory, stating, “He showed a wee bit of class… He’s a nice horse going forward.”
Reyenzi, at long odds of $61, also impressed, finishing second by just 0.75 lengths.
For Galveston, the debut disappointment may be attributed to expending energy early in the race.
Call Me Captain (Calyx) strikes on debut for Natalia Lupini with the 2m gns Frankel colt, Galveston, last of the finishers at @NaasRacecourse.
Reyenzi and Edge Of Seventeen both eye-catchers in the places 👀 pic.twitter.com/aOiNt2vham
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 19, 2024