Stallion statistics: Avonbridge

The John Ryan-trained Iver Bridge Lad (Avonbridge — Fittonia, by Ashkalani) was a five length winner on the all-weather at Kempton last month and he progressed from that to win the Listed Foundation Developments Dragon Stakes at Sandown on Friday, becoming the first black-type winner for first crop sire Avonbridge.

Ridden by Marc Halford, Iver Bridge Lad was held up before bursting through between his rivals a furlong out, going clear to win by a half a length from Di Stefano. Angel's Pursuit was the same distance away in third.

Trainer John Ryan's father Michael said: "He has done it well and is a tough little horse. He is progressing all of the time and puts his head down and battles. He won very well at Kempton in a good time and will probably get a bit further."

Iver Bridge Lad fetched 8,000 gns as a foal but only 1,000 gns as a yearling; he is a half-brother to a placed runner out of a winning half-sister to a number of winners.

Whitsbury Manor Stud resident Avonbridge joins Le Vie dei Colori, Rock Hard Ten, Oratorio and Starcraft as a first season sire with a stakes winner to his name. The son of Averti has six winners from only 25 runners thus far and today's win moves him above Dubawi into fifth place on the first crop sires' list. Avonbridge had 48 yearlings sell last year for an average of £16,500 with a top price at the DBS St Leger Sale of £74,000.

The later 7f maiden saw the Andrew Balding-trained Dreamspeed (Barathea — Kapria, by Simon Du Desert), a half brother to the useful Group-placed Dream Eater win on his debut, beating Poor Prince by half a length. Brandeburgo was a further two and a quarter lengths back in third.