YOSEMITE Valley showed the benefit of his seasonal debut second at Cork last month as the Donnacha O’Brien-trained colt landed the Listed Lester Piggott Gladness Stakes in fine style at this well-attended Newbridge Parishes Race Day.

The Flaxman Stables homebred son of Shamardal, a half-brother to Piz Badile who won the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes for the same connections in 2022, travelled strongly for Gavin Ryan before quickening up smartly on the testing ground (officially soft to heavy).

The 3/1 chance got well on top in the final 100 yards to beat 7/4 favourite Jumbly by two and three-quarter lengths with Mutasarref in third.

“It was a good performance. I always thought he was a proper horse, but he was unlucky a few times,” said the winning trainer. “He ran well in Cork the last day and the step up to seven seemed to suit him. It’s nice to get a stakes win into him.

“All the big seven-furlong races will be open to him and there is the Maurice de Gheest over six and a half in France. Whether he’s up to that level I don’t know but I’d like to give him a shot at it to see.

“The Greenlands is here in about a month and a stiff six could be an option.”

Piggott’s son Jamie and daughter Tracy, along with her daughter Thea, were on hand to make the presentations.

Promise

Follow Me confirmed the promise shown in France last year when making a winning start for Ross O’Sullivan and new connections despite a huge market drift in the Treacy Group Irish EBF Maiden.

The 93-rated Shalaa colt, as low as 5/1 in the morning before drifting right out to 22/1 by the off, responded gamely to Shane Foley’s urgings to deny Eclipse Emerald by half-a-length.

“Tom Malone bought him at a sale in France for Amanda (Torrens, owner) and as soon as he came off the box I liked him - he has size and scope.

“He had good form in France as a two-year-old but looked like a three-year-old. He’s a tall horse with a good temperament. Hopefully he can take us to the big days, and we can have a nice summer with him.”

JOSEPH O’Brien also enjoyed a good afternoon teaming up with Dylan Browne McMonagle for a near 80/1 double with a couple of smart two-year-olds that could both be aimed at Royal Ascot.

Midnight Strike (15/2) made a big impression on debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race leading a furlong out and stretching out well in the closing stages to beat Treasure Isle by two lengths.

“I thought he was a nice colt but didn’t expect him to win like that. He looks an Ascot type horse and is another nice Starspangledbanner for Teme Valley. We thought he’d stay six but was certainly quick enough to start at five. He looks very smart,” said Joseph O’Brien.

Impressive

Cowardofthecounty was probably even more impressive half an hour later in the Keadeen Hotel Irish EBF Maiden.

The easy-to-back 17/2 shot drew clear along with Whistlejacket inside the final furlong and asserted in the closing stages to beat the evens favourite by two and a half lengths.

“This fella looked like he could be a bit special at home but you’re never really sure with a two-year-old until they go to the races,” said O’Brien of the E S Racing-owned son of Kodi Bear.

“He’s a particularly laidback horse and couldn’t have been more impressive. He’s well over 500 kilos which for a two-year-old at this stage is a lot, and he could go straight for the Coventry now. He’s such a big horse I don’t know does he need to run again but we’ll have to see.

“We knew when the horse ran well in the first that there was a good chance this lad would run well too. A lot of people pitch in two-year-olds with an older horse to give them a guide, but we don’t and keep the two-year-olds together.

“They are the first two colts that we have ran and they have both been away once - today is just the second time they have been on grass. We don’t drill our two-year-olds and like them to progress, so it bodes well on what they have done today.”

ZEPHRON recorded a third course win in the PG Duffy & Sons Citroen Handicap, although Wayne Hassett had to wait a while to get a clear run.

A gap eventually appeared over a furlong out and the 13/2 shot kept on well, heading El Bello in the closing stages to score by half-a-length.

“He likes the Curragh and has form on most types of ground but handles that better than most horses. He could end up back in Galway for something as he got touched off there a few years ago,” said Cullen who trains the seven-year-old for his mother, Catherine.

Magical Vision, trained by Aidan Howard for his partner Alana Insole, was another local winner in the Newbridge Silverware Sprint Handicap.

The 10/3 chance travelled sweetly under Chris Hayes before being asked for her effort a furlong out and she quickened up nicely to beat Two Stars by a length and a quarter.

“She travelled very well, and I think five is definitely her trip. We’ll keep an eye on the weather now and she won’t run on quick ground,” said Howard.

Strong ride

Redshore City benefitted from a strong ride by Wayne Lordan in the Business Plus Handicap, with the Mark Devlin-owned gelding getting up close home to edge out Pinar Del Rio and Un Bacio Ancora by a short-head and a neck.

“He had two nice runs in Dundalk, but I rode him the last day over a mile and I just felt the surface was a little on the quick side for him. He was just beaten over five and a half in Sligo last year, so we thought he’d get away with six and he just did,” said Lordan of the Natalia Lupini-trained 9/1 winner.