THE globe-trotting I Am Superman recorded his second win since rejoining trainer Michael O’Callaghan from Australia when clinging on to land the opening conditions race.

Colin Keane made the running on the 2/1 co-favourite, and he looked to have the race in the bag passing the furlong pole, but Fiscal Rules conjured up a late burst to get within a head of the winner at the line.

I Am Superman was a dual Group 2 winner in his spell ‘down under’ for the trainer’s father and owner Michael O’Callaghan senior and was also narrowly denied in Group 1 company.

“I’m delighted with that, it’s his eighth career win,” said O’Callaghan.

“Colin said he hated the ground but being big and strong he managed to get through it and get home.

“He’s a very good horse on his day. From the back end of last year I’ve had the Buckingham Palace Stakes in my head for him. It’s seven furlongs at Royal Ascot where they’ll go a lick.”

Memorable campaign

Simply Sideways contributed five victories to what was a memorable 2023 campaign for Tim Doyle and the Sir Prancealot mare got the Moyne handler off the mark for this season in the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Handicap.

Completing a double for rider Wayne Hassett, the 7/2 chance raced close to the pace and came through to lead over a furlong out to gain a half-length verdict over Independent Expert.

“We were worried coming into this year that she was so highly-rated but we were happy with her first few runs,” said Doyle of his wife Claire’s homebred.

“She was only beaten a length-and-a-half the last day at the Curragh and we think she’s best coming off a bend.

Very well

“She gets through that soft ground very well, she’s a little star and she tries hard,” he added.

Hassett’s first winner had been aboard Victor’s Choice who went one better in style when taking the Thomastown 3-y-o Handicap for Adrian Murray.

Runner-up on her previous visit to Gowran, the 9/4 favourite opened her account in emphatic fashion in the colours of Paul McLoughlin and Daniel Foster, quickening away in the closing stages to post a five-and-a-half length win over I Bid You Ajou.

“She didn’t do much when she hit the front and was saving plenty for herself,” said the winning rider.

“She loved that ground.

“I was a bit worried to be honest as it was very tacky but she did it well to be fair to her.”

THE lead changed hands several times up the straight in the three-year-old claimer and the last to hit the front was 200/1 winner King Of The Bronx

The Dragon Pulse gelding, in the colours of Rory Slevin, was probably available at much bigger odds in running as he was pushed along from early by Robbie Colgan, but as those in front of him wilted, he stayed on best to beat Dynamite Defense by three-quarters of a length

“That was a surprise anyway!” said trainer Nigel Slevin. “He has schooled over hurdles already.”

Claimed for €20,000, the winner will now join Gavin Cromwell.

Colgan doubled up when Vestigia (4/1) outstayed rivals in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.

Touched off in a Curragh nursery, the Footstepsinthesand gelding raced in mid-division before responding well for Colgan to wear down Judge Me Not and won going away by three lengths.

Trainer Sheila Lavery said of her brother John’s winner: “I’ve always liked him, thought a lot of him.

“He just wasn’t scoping clean after his runs so he was due to do that. I was freaking out here today with the ground so I just asked Robbie to take his time.

“When he got it together, he finished off lovely. He was short a gallop so I was a little bit worried but I just had to get him started as we were so long waiting. He shouldn’t be a maiden as he should have won the race at the Curragh last year, he was unlucky not to get the race in the stewards’ room.”

Cage Rattler shakes them up for Kinsella xxx

CAGE Rattler justified 3/1 favouritism in the seven-furlong handicap for older horses.

The chesnut son of National Defense hit the front two furlongs out under Adam Caffrey and, despite edging left, stayed on well to account for Passionate by a length and three-quarters.

“We fancied him the last day at the Curragh, it was a small handicap with a big pot, but it was probably a little bit short for him,” said trainer John Kinsella who is based in Rathdrum, Co Wicklow.

“He nearly threw it away by hanging, he’s still green and will hopefully improve. He’s only had six runs and we let him out for a year after his two-year-old run as he was big and immature.

“He’s in at Killarney on Tuesday and might go there.”

Barrier (5/1), a three-parts sister to strong stayer Pied Piper, followed up a maiden hurdle win at Tramore last month by landing the mile and six-furlong handicap under Keithen Kennedy.

Strong challenge

Having his first ride for Gordon Elliott, who owns the daughter of Australia himself, 7lb claimer Kennedy brought his mount from mid-division to lead inside the final quarter-mile. Valleyoftheeagles maintained a strong challenge all the way to the line but Barrier saw out the trip well to account for that rival by a length.

“It’s great, a big thanks to Gordon for giving me the opportunity. It’s a great experience to ride for someone like him,” said Kennedy.

“She travelled, she had cheekpieces on today which made a big difference. She took me along everywhere and I took the shortest way around. She went away and did it well.”