BOTH Clear Quartz and Sylkie supplemented summer festival gains, as they again showed their fondness for Ballybrit.

Backed from 7/1 to 7/2, the Mark Fahey-trained Clear Quartz recovered quickly from a slow start and soon improved into mid-division under Ronan Whelan.

Angled to the outer approaching the straight, the Jean Bird-owned seven-year-old stayed on strongly when ridden from the furlong pole, getting up close home to deny Monasterboice (3/1 favourite) by half a length.

“He doesn’t help himself as he gets wound up in the stalls but Ronnie was brilliant on him,” Fahey enthused.

“He loves this place and if there is a race for him here in October, he’ll definitely run and we’d love to come back next year for the festival.”

Claimed

Bought out of a claimer at Fairyhouse in May for €10,000, Sylkie registered a second success for current connections in the James P. Cunningham Electrical Handicap.

Trained in Co Clare by Danny Howard and well-supported from, 7/1 into 7/2 favouritism, the 62-rated victor was settled in rear by Colin Keane, making good progress on the outer approaching the straight.

Ridden in pursuit of Eddie G inside the final furlong, the Sylkie Syndicate-owned chestnut edged to the front with less than 50 yards to go and was three-quarters of a length ahead at the line.

“I thought the ground might have dried out too much but Rory Cleary, who couldn’t ride her today, said it wouldn’t be a problem and Colin gave her a super ride,” Howard divulged.

While just denied with Eddie G, Adrian McGuinness and Adam Caffrey came out the right side of another close finish to the Galway Handicap.

Stable stalwart Sirjack Thomas (8/1) claimed this 16-runner contest, as he battled gamely in the closing stages to fend off the effort of Kinda Tiny by a neck.

“The wide draw was my biggest worry but he pinged the lids, got into a lovely position and stayed at it really well,” Caffrey said of the admirable Dooley Thoroughbreds-owned grey.

IN the colours of Glyn and Jane Davies, Beechwood put in a career best performance, as she easily accounted for 14 rivals in the feature Ardillaun Hotel Irish EBF Oyster Stakes.

Completing a double for Billy Lee, the Le Havre bay was available at 9/1 in early shows for this listed heat, eventually going off at 5s.

Racing mainly in fifth, the Paddy Twomey-trained victor took closer order from the three-furlong pole and travelled strongly in second on the turn for home.

Soon sent to the front, she increased her advantage inside the final furlong, ultimately defeating UK raider Rogue Sellier (7/2 favourite) by four and a quarter lengths.

“She obviously transferred to us mid-season. She hasn’t done anything between her races and I was happy coming here she would run a good race,” Twomey disclosed.

“I’d say after today there is every chance she will stay in training next year.”

Opening a double

The well-backed Jaber Abdullah-owned Tamam Desert (3/1 favourite) provided Lee with his initial success in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden.

Trained by Eoghan O’Neill and bought for €27,000 at the Tattersalls Breeze Up Sale in May, the Group 1-entered bay raced in mid-division, making progress on the outer approaching the straight.

Ridden with over a furlong to go, she came with her challenge inside the final 150 yards and showed a willing attitude, getting up in the final strides to beat Medici Venus by a short-head.

“She was very green the first day and Billy said she was just still very green today,” O’Neill reflected. She is a work in progress and we’ll probably look at the Weld Park Stakes now.”

THE regally-bred Trinity College showed his true worth in first time blinkers, routing nine rivals under Wayne Lordan in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

Out of dual Guineas heroine Hermosa, the Aidan O’Brien-trained bay was returned the 10/11 favourite (from 5/4) for owners Masaaki Matsushima, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.

Making virtually all, the Dubawi colt readily increased his advantage on the approach to the straight and powered further clear when ridden from the furlong pole, eventually coming home 12 lengths to the good.

“At home he had shown plenty of ability but was just very babyish and when we put the blinkers on, he seemed to come forward,” stable representative Chris Armstrong explained.

“He will make into a lovely middle-distance horse next year and will stay very well.”

Keen early

The Joe Murphy-trained Dark Oak claimed the mile-and-a-half Sean Cleary Memorial Fillies Maiden on her sixth start.

Second and keen early on under Gary Carroll, the 25/1 chance improved to the front on the turn into the straight and soon kicked a few lengths clear.

Keeping up the gallop in the closing stages, the Holmoak Stables and Kevin Duffy-owned victor was three-quarters of a length clear at the line.

“We always liked her but felt she might struggle to win her maiden. She is very big though and will be better in another year. I’d say she will go hurdling” Murphy commented.

Jumping beckons

The National Hunt game also beckons for Avondale after he followed-up on a recent Roscommon success in the Galway Apprentice Handicap.

Owned and trained by Barry Connell, the four-year-old was well-fancied to defy a 6lb rise, going off the 5/2 favourite (from 4s) under Daniel King.

Settled in second, the Gleneagles bay improved to the front on the turn into the straight and soon skipped a few lengths clear.

Ridden inside the final furlong, he was always holding the fast-finishing Palo Duro, with three-quarters of a length between them at the line.

“I’d say he has improved a bit from Roscommon. He got the run of today’s race and will be more of a jumping horse in the future,” Connell revealed.