THE remarkable momentum of the Jessica Harrington string shows no signs of abating and the trainer moved on to 41-winner mark of a tremendous campaign as Servalan pounced late in the Listed Yeomanstown Stud Irish EBF Stakes.

On just her second start of the season, and back to the course and distance that provided her with a stakes victory last season, the daughter of No Nay Never did especially well to land this six-furlong event as she didn’t enjoy a straightforward passage on the inner. She was stopped in her run a couple of times, notably approaching the last furlong, yet quickened up smartly for Shane Foley to land in front in the last few strides, denying Woody Creek by a short-head. The winner was among a trio of 11/2 co-favourites in what was a highly competitive edition of this race.

The filly is owned by the very successful breeder Vimal Khosla, and her victory means that her trainer now lies just two winners short of her career-best tally of 43 victories for a season.

“Shane said she would have been a very unlucky loser, but the fast pace suited her well as she has a really good turn of foot,” reported Harrington. “I’ve been struggling to find races for her at this trip so she could definitely be one that will travel across to England, and Shane thinks she’ll get another furlong so that would give us options. We’ll look at group races for her.”

I Am Superman did what his form and rating entitled him too as he made short work of his opponents in the seven-furlong conditions race. The Irish 2000 Guineas sixth was a 5/6 favourite to bounce back from an unplaced run in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, and he did so under Leigh Roche to hand out a comfortable three-and-a-quarter-length beating to the 102-rated Bowerman.

“He’s a horse with loads of talent and at Ascot the occasion just got too him, but he’s done that well and I think there’s plenty more to come from him,” reported Michael O’Callaghan.

JOSEPH O’Brien introduced a newcomer of real note in Vitalogy who belied odds of 25/1 in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. This Fergus Galvin-owned son of No Nay Never looked quite green at various stages of this six-furlong affair, and even when he began to move forward he had plenty to do. However, he launched a whirlwind charge for Shane Crosse over the last furlong to get home by a head. The placings were filled by Curragh maiden second Arranmore and the Chesham Stakes fifth Harpocrates which makes the winner’s effort all the more meritorious.

“He quickened very well when the penny dropped. Before today had it in my head to go seven furlongs with him next time but looking at that I’d say he could stick to this trip and we’ll look for a stakes race next,” declared O’Brien.

The tough and reliable Leagan Gaeilge (3/1) turned out fresh and well from a third at the Curragh the previous Saturday to win the Caragh Nurseries Handicap over a mile where just over two lengths covered all five of the runners. The Kevin Manning-ridden and Jackie Bolger-owned daughter of Vocalised edged into a narrow lead inside the distance and fought on well to see off Major Reward by a neck. This was a fifth winner in seven days for Jim Bolger who expects his charge to turn out again before too long.

A RESURGENT Powersville made it two wins from her last three outings in the 45-65 rated five-furlong handicap. A €2,500 yearling purchase, this Tom Mullins-trained four-year-old has now earned just short of €55,000 and she was due to bid for a follow-up success at Down Royal last night. Niall McCullagh’s mount always looked to have the front running Associate Rock covered and she dealt with that one inside the distance for a length-and-a-quarter success over Ken Sam’s. Despite working her way back to form lately, the daughter of Frozen Power was running off a mark that is 20lbs lower (62) than her peak as a two-year-old.

Fozzy Stack’s Drumquina (4/1) followed-up an encouraging run in a conditions race here earlier in the month with a gritty success in the Tom Jones Memorial Maiden over six furlongs. Andy Slattery’s mount showed a fine attitude over the last furlong and a half to hold off the favourite Castletownshend by a short-head. Just as her dam, Tarascon, did when landing the 1998 Irish 1000 Guineas, this daughter of Holy Roman Emperor carries the colours of Jane Rowlinson.

Andy Slattery’s cousin Ben Coen won with Pat Flynn’s Travelwise (6/1) in the O’Neill & Co. 10 Year Anniversary Apprentice Handicap. This gelding was having just his fourth career outing when he returned from two years off to finish second in a Limerick handicap earlier in the month and he built on that to record a resounding four-length triumph. Travelwise is owned by the trainer’s wife, Catherine.