THE talented Cigamia bagged the stakes race success that her talents deserved as she ran out a game winner of the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cairn Rouge Stakes for Willie McCreery and Billy Lee.

Back at a track where she won a conditions race in May before running a fine fourth in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot, this Flaxman Stables-owned filly did well to justify 11/8 favouritism. She was forced to endure a wide trip for most of this race but from early in the straight looked to be travelling sweetly for Lee. After arriving to make her bid nearing the last furlong Cigamia had to dig in but she did so in game fashion.

A battling Panama Red rallied well to force a bobbing finish but Cigamia was in front where it mattered to secure a precious blacktype success.

“It’s beautiful ground out there but is possibly a tad slow for her. She ran a lovely race at Ascot on quick ground,” stated McCreery who remains on course to reach 20 winners for the season for the tenth year in succession.

“She’s a lovely filly who is developing and she will be a lovely filly next year so I don’t want to over-face her this season. Hopefully it’s onwards and upwards from here.”

Coen brothers

The card also featured winners for brothers Ben and Jake Coen and the former bagged the concluding Killarney Grand Hotel Handicap aboard the steady improver Unanswered.

Tony Martin’s charge lined up chasing a four-timer in this 47-70 rated two-mile contest and produced a likeable effort. The 5/2 chance was pushed along from some way out but raised his effort in willing style and forged to the front inside the last quarter of a mile to carry the day by two and three-quarter lengths.

There could easily be more to come from this John Breslin-owned five-year-old who will warrant the utmost respect wherever he turns out at Galway later in the month.

Earlier Jake Coen and Gracesolution (15/2) followed up their recent Sligo triumph in the 47-65 rated Laurel’s Handicap over 11 furlongs. Ross O’Sullivan’s charge had just a 3lbs rise to overcome for Sligo and she was produced with a nicely timed effort to lead with a furlong to run to defeat Barometer by a length and a quarter.

“She only got 3lbs for Sligo which gave her a chance and she should stay in this bracket so we’ll try for another one of these,” commented O’Sullivan. “She was a bit keen in her bumpers but she’s learning how to race now.”

Cowboy rules again for Harrignton

JESSICA Harrington’s excellent form was once again in evidence as she sent out a one-two in the Rose Hotel Rated Race where Cowboy Justice bounced back from an unplaced run at Chester last month to win nicely under Shane Foley.

This 86-rated Alpha Racing-owned son of Lope De Vega picked up nicely for Shane Foley to take charge of this race nearing the last furlong and he kept on well to reach the line two lengths ahead of That’s Just Dandy. The 5/2 favourite was adding to the Curragh maiden success he recorded last August.

“We went to Chester as it was such a valuable race but it didn’t work out and it’s nice to see him back,” remarked the trainer’s son-in-law Richie Galway. “He’s a nice, solid horse and hopefully he can progress from here. Shane said maybe he could be a horse for the Colm Quinn BMW Mile at Galway and we’ll target those types of races with him.”

The admirable Geological made it 16 career wins from 138 starts as the 10-year-old sprang a 25/1 surprise in the M.D O’Shea & Sons Handicap. A first winner for trainer Damien English in just under a year, the Grougha Stables-owned 10-year-old showed plenty of his old dash as he took up a position at the head of the field and bravely turned away one rival after another in the straight. Donagh O’Connor’s mount got to the line with a length and a quarter to spare over Talking Tough.

“He’s now won every year that we’ve had him. He’s been leading the two-year-olds at home all year and has gotten his confidence and appetite back and Donagh says there might be another one in him,” remarked English. “This was also the first time he has run in this grade and I’d say that was a help to him too.”

Papilio bounces back for Stack and Gilligan

THE Fozzy Stack-trained juvenile Papilio (5/1) bounced back to form to make it two wins from three starts in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Race.

After landing a Curragh maiden on Guineas weekend, this daughter of Starspangledbanner struggled in the Airlie Stud Stakes last month but turned in an improved effort here as she stepped up from six furlongs to a mile.

Loomed

A third career success for jockey Danny Gilligan and his last as a 10lb claimer, Papilio loomed up to tackle the favourite Greenland approaching the final furlong and soon gained the upper hand to score by a length.

The winner is owned by Emily Magnier, Linda Shanahan and Tom Magnier.

“We took a chance running her in a Group 2 the last day but she was just on her head over six furlongs and we always felt seven furlongs or a mile would suit her,” reported Stack.

“She’s done that well so we might look at the Group 3 Flame Of Tara Stakes at the Curragh next month. She’s a nice filly who was still having a look when she got there and I thought Danny was very cool on her.”

Tally

After riding out his 10lbs claim at Dundalk the previous day, apprentice Adam Caffrey added to his tally as Rosie Rock (11/4) came good in the Larkin’s Francie Sheahan’s Claiming Race over a mile.

This Thomas Heatrick-owned and -bred filly had struggled for form since winning at Leopardstown in May but here she pounced approaching the final furlong for a three-quarter-length triumph over Eastern Racer.

The winner was subsequently claimed by James McAuley for €7,000.

“She’s a genuine filly who will pop up and win a race or two every year. Adam is riding really well at the minute,” stated McGuinness.