Poker folds on Haydock debut

POKER, the most expensive yearling colt ever sold at public auction in Europe, failed to come up with the aces on his debut at Haydock Park yesterday.

- BY DAVID YATES

Last October, Amo Racing supremo Kia Joorabchian secured the son of Wootton Bassett for 4.3million guineas at the Tattersalls Book 1 Yearling Sale, at which the football agent splashed out just shy of £25million.

Trainer Karl Burke (right) managed expectations ahead of the two-year-old’s debut in a novice stakes at the Newton-le-Willows course, admitting he wasn't “expecting fireworks” and describing Poker as “a work in progress who is a horse for next year”.