CHRIS Hayes was the star turn of this classy card as he reeled off a 965/1 four-timer – the second of his career – which was headed by Minaun who gave Henry de Bromhead the first pattern race victory of his career in the Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes.

Only four went to post in the Marble Hill and Minaun was the outsider of the field at 9/1, but she had shown considerable promise to finish second in a smart fillies’ maiden at Leopardstown on her debut last month.

The drop back to six furlongs was no problem at all to this daughter of Zoffany who showed a great attitude for Hayes to get the better of another once-raced maiden, Arctician. At the finish, a neck separated the front pair with the odds-on Miliatary Style somewhat disappointing as he finished three-quarters of a length away in third.

De Bromhead trains this filly for Stephen McCarthy who had the smart dual winner Aerclub with the trainer before the horse was sold overseas earlier in the year. “She’s a filly we like a lot and was recommended to us by Cormac Farrell in the spring,” commented the trainer. “She’s growing all the time so we won’t be in a rush with her but she’s got a Moyglare entry. I’m delighted for Stephen as we replaced Aerclub with this filly.”

Hayes’ day began with a victory as he on Ken Condon’s Miss Amulet (5/2) in the five-furlong Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Maiden.

This £7,500 yearling, who carries the colours of Colm Griffin, stretched clear over the last furlong to defeat the newcomer Zoom Call by an easy five lengths. Miss Amulet is now the fifth winner to emerge from the Naas maiden won by More Beautiful on the first day of racing’s resumption last month.

Condon has won with three of the five juveniles he has run so far this season. A tilt at a blacktype contest could feature on the winner’s agenda.

Double

Chris Hayes then turned to his chief supporter Fozzy Stack, recording his second double in as many days, for his last two winners and the four-timer was completed when Too Soon To Panic (9/4) gained a deserved success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over a mile.

This 85-rated daughter of Gleneagles built on a decent comeback effort behind Protagonist to hold off the eye-catching newcomer Federica Sophia by three-quarters of a length. The winner is owned by Cayton Park Stud and Sue Magnier and is now likely to try her hand at stakes level.

The other Stack inmate to strike was Starlite Dancer (15/2) in the 45-65 rated seven-furlong handicap. The 13-race maiden and joint top-weight, who carries the colours of his trainer, landed in front on the line to edge out Cartisienne whose jockey Paddy Harnett picked up a one-day whip ban. The winner could now head to Galway.

FOR the fifth time in seven years, the Group 3 Munster Oaks went to Aidan O’Brien, the latest win achieved by Snow, who also provided Wayne Lordan with a fourth pattern race success in eight days.

As a sister to Kew Gardens, Snow (11/4) was always likely to make a better filly this year, and she is progressing well with every run. A maiden win at the Curragh was followed by a good second at Group 3 level in last month’s Blue Wind Stakes, but this was her best effort yet and she relished her first try at a mile and a half.

Lordan had his mount in a challenging position from early in the straight and once striking the front, Snow was not for passing. She kept on in determined fashion eventually seeing off the 40/1 shot Snapraeceps by a length and a quarter.

“Seamie had ridden her on her last two starts and rated her quite highly. She was a bit behind the bridle today but did it well and loved that trip. I’d say there could be more to come her,” commented the winning rider.

There was early drama in the race as last year’s Irish St Leger heroine Search For A Song slipped rounding the first bend and was pulled up.

Money well spent

The €110,000 paid for Sonaiyla (25/1 - 12/1) at Goffs last November now looks like a particularly insightful purchase as she made a winning debut for trainer Paddy Twomey in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Sweet Mimosa Stakes.

This Aga Khan-bred four-year-old daughter of Dark Angel appeared to have it all to do with a rating of 86 but appealed as one that could progress this year, and the application of both a visor and a tongue-tie for the first time saw this Ennistown Stud-owned filly excel. Billy Lee’s mount was prominent throughout and sustained that effort to finish half a length ahead of the 80/1 shot Back To Brussels.

“I said to Ruairi O’Coileain (Ennistown Stud) at the sales last November that I’d like him to buy this filly and I’m delighted for him; he was my first outside owner,” commented Twomey. “We’ll look at group races and possibly the Ballyogan Stakes at Naas in a few weeks could be a target.”

Derby one-two

A quality card concluded with a near perfect result for Michael Halford who sent out a one-two in the Cork Derby, headed by the reserve Rayounpour (16/1) who was stepping forward markedly from his defeat in a Limerick maiden last month.

The joint bottom-weight, who was giving apprentice Adam Farragher his biggest success to date, took full advantage of his feather-weight to defeat stablemate War Diary by one and three-quarter lengths.

The winner carried the colours of Richard McNally.

“He’s not the biggest of horses so the light weight helped. Things worked out well for him too as he got a run and then Adam was able to come here after his horse at Fairyhouse was a non-runner,” declared Halford.

“He’s a grand horse who stays well and we’ll look for more of these types of races.

“I’m delighted for Adam, who is based with us, as that’s his first winner for us, and I thought War Diary ran very well having been off a long time.”