IT was a case of saving the best for last at Gowran last Sunday, with Maxux and Trustyourinstinct both impressing in the concluding races, providing Joseph O’Brien with a quickfire brace.

Owned by Spanish footballer Alvaro Odriozola and bought for 200,000gns as a yearling, Maxux (12/1) did well to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden on debut, overcoming a wide draw and a slightly slow start.

She gradually made her way through the field under Mikey Sheehy and was ridden to the front from the furlong pole, stretching clear to record a decisive four and three-quarter length success.

The Carriganóg handler also saddled runner-up Sandy Creek, with this one returned the clear market leader at 8/13.

“She is very relaxed at home and has got an engine. Mikey said he thinks she could be pretty smart,” Brendan Powell, assistant trainer, stated.

“She will be a nice broodmare prospect for her owner, as his big passion is breeding.”

Doubled

O’Brien doubled his tally in the concluding Thomastown Race, with Trustyourinstinct justifying 11/8 favouritism (9/4 early).

Owned by J.P. McManus and bred by his wife Noreen, the Churchill colt was following-up on his debut success at the Curragh. Settled behind the leaders by Declan McDonogh, he improved to challenge from the two-furlong pole and soon led, keeping on well in the closing stages to score by two and three-quarter lengths.

“He did that nicely, Declan was very happy with him and he has come forward a bit from the Curragh,” Frank Berry, McManus’ racing manager, said. “Hopefully he will keep going forward.”

Family affair for Slatterys and Clearys

ON the day that was in it, father and son pairings aptly claimed two of the eight races down for decision.

Andy and Andrew Slattery struck first with newcomer Jolt (22/1) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, with this Acclamation bay owned by Rachael Halley.

Poised to challenge behind the leaders from early in the straight, he got to the front from the furlong pole and kept on well from there, winning snugly by a length and a half.

“He is a nice horse but I thought he would improve for the run,” the successful handler revealed.

“We thought he was good enough to run in open maidens rather than auction ones. Hopefully he’ll step up to stakes company now.”

Present

Tom and Rory Cleary successfully combined with Kodiac Prince in the Packages On gowranpark.ie Handicap, with the winning rider later jibing; “That’s his Father’s Day present!”

Sent off the 9/4 favourite, after being placed on his two most recent starts, the Helena O’Toole owned six-year-old raced behind the leaders, improving into a closer second upon entering the straight.

Pushed along to lead inside the two-furlong pole, he was soon ridden and kept on well in the closing stages to see off the effort of Pink Socks by three-quarters of a length.

“He runs well around here and is better than ever this year. He is improving with age, like myself!”, the winning trainer reported.

There was further Father’s Day joy in the second split of this mile contest, with Chimeric landing the spoils for Johnny Levins, who was accompanied by his eight-month-old son Theo.

Owned by Mark Hopkins and his father David, the Make Believe gelding was sent off a 14/1 chance under Donagh O’Connor.

Coming from off the pace, he gradually made his way through the field and picked off the front running Corballis Flyer (3/1 favourite from 9s early) inside the final 100 yards, with three-quarters of a length between them at the line.

“He is a prisoner to a fast pace, if he doesn’t get it, he doesn’t get there,” Levins explained.

“His owners are big supporters of the yard and it’s brilliant to give everyone a winner on Father’s Day.”

Plume plays it perfect for the Duffys

THE father and son theme continued in the feature race on the programme, with Plume Noire (8/1) recording her second career success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap.

Trained by Brian Duffy and owned by his father Frank, the Harzand five-year-old is a half-sister to 2016 Irish 1000 Guineas victor Jet Setting.

Fitted with cheekpieces for the first time, the 77-rated bay came with her challenge in the centre of the track halfway up the straight.

Soon ridden, she edged to the front inside the final furlong, keeping on well to see off Touching Clouds by a head.

“The lads filled me with confidence, they said she worked well last week and the first time cheekpieces today seemed to keep her mind on the job,” winning rider James Ryan commented.

Made all

First time cheekpieces also worked a treat on the Jessica Harrington-trained Sea Spray, as he made all in the Ladies Day July 29th Apprentice Handicap.

Owned by Harrington, Joe Flaherty, Richie Galway and Mark Phelan, the Zoustar colt was sent off an 11/2 chance under Jamie Powell.

He had all his rivals off the bridle from early in the straight and kept up the gallop all the way to the line, with four and a quarter lengths the margin of victory.

“We decided to go out in front to just make his mind up for him in the first time cheekpieces,” Harrington divulged.

“He has always shown us plenty, but he just hadn’t quite got his act together.”

Bred, owned and trained by Seamus O’Donnell, it was also pretty straightforward for The Fog Horn, who got in as a reserve in the Golf At Gowran Park 3yo Handicap.

Wayne Lordan was a late replacement for Sean Bowen aboard the 12/1 chance, with the latter delayed in getting home from Leicester after riding a winner there the previous evening.

Settled behind the leaders on the inner, she was pushed along to challenge from early in the straight and hit the front with a furlong left to race, stretching clear from there to score by three lengths.

“She had a great run the last day (beaten by just a short head at Fairyhouse). Wayne stepped in for the ride and he was great on her,” O’Donnell remarked.