REST OF THE CARD

AIDAN O’Brien looks to have another talented juvenile on his hands in the shape of How High The Moon, like her sister Diamondsandrubies owned in partnership by Roisin Henry and Sue Magnier, who made a winning debut in the Loder EBF Fillies Race. There was drama just before halfway as the 5/2 favourite Camellia Japonica clipped heels and dislodged Shane Foley, who was thankfully none the worse for the tumble.

Seamie Heffernan produced the 7/2 winner from off the pace to lead inside the final furlong, and she stayed on strongly to beat Midnight Crossing by a length and three quarters.

“She’s a nice filly, and will have learned a lot from that. She can come back here for the Debutante Stakes or she has a number of other options,” said O’Brien of the Fastnet Rock filly who was given quotes of 16/1 for next year’s Investec Oaks.

PROTRACTED BATTLE

The Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club Phoenix Sprint Stakes was the chief supporting race on the card, and David Allan partnered his first Irish winner as Mattmu (3/1) touched off Toscanini following a protracted battle. The pair took control of this Group 3 contest after halfway, coming close in the final furlong as Toscanini edged left under pressure, and there was just a short-head between them at the line.

Fort Del Oro stayed on a further two lengths back in third, while 6/4 favourite Anthem Alexander could find no extra from well over a furlong out in fourth.

“He’s only been out of the first three once and that was down to the ground. He’s as hard as nails, and really he can’t have the ground soft enough,” said Allan of the three-year-old, trained near Malton by Tim Easterby for owner James Bowers.

Joseph Murray sent out his first winner as Captain Cullen, a five-time winner previously for trainer Gerry Keane, took the seven-furlong Gabriel Curran Memorial Handicap under Ian Queally.

The 5/1 joint favourite (available at 7/1 in the morning) travelled well to lead a furlong out, and was driven out to beat the staying on Tom Dooley by a length. The six-year-old gelding is owned by Murray’s fiancée Lisa Sheridan.

Ger Lyons and Colin Keane continued their good season as Qatar Racing’s Restive made virtually all in the Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital EBF Maiden.

The well-supported 4/1 (from 11/2) chance was the most experienced in a 12-runner line-up mainly comprising newcomers, and was ridden to assert a furlong out for a length verdict over Stellar Mass with Mutadaffeq catching the eye staying on well in third.

Lyons’ brother and assistant Shane said, “You can’t beat a run. Colin said he was still a bit green, and he’ll be a lovely horse for next year. He bounced off the ground.”

LAST-GASP SUCCESS

Pat Smullen again showed why he’s the runaway leader of the jockeys’ championship by recording winner number 73 with a last gasp success on Katimavik in the Tipperary Crystal Handicap.

This mile event proved a real triumph for the assessor with the majority of the 11 runners in with a chance in the closing stages as the Moyglare Stud home-bred prevailed by a short-head and a nose at odds of 8/1.

“He’s consistent, and was only beaten half a length at Leopardstown. It was a typically competitive Curragh handicap, and a little bit of ease in the ground was a help,” said trainer Dermot Weld.

By contrast the Jog For Jockeys 23rd August Nursery was a far more straightforward affair as Dr Doro (4/1), trained by Tommy Stack for his wife Liz, made all under Wayne Lordan to score in impressive fashion.

“She’s a very quick filly. She’s been running consistently and I just let her bowl along and she did it well. She’s a nice filly,” said Lordan.