BOUNDLESS Ocean came good in stakes company when running on a convincing winner of the Group 3 Meld Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday evening.

Jim Bolger’s charge had been unlucky on a few occasions in group company but it proved plain sailing this time for the 15/8 favourite. The son of Teofilo took a keen hold under Kevin Manning in the early stages of the nine-furlong contest but picked up well to lead a furlong from home.

He galloped on strongly in the closing stages to post a three-and-a-quarter-length win over front-runner Bear Story.

“He’s been an unlucky horse, several times. He’s good at that trip, or a mile and a quarter, so we’ll probably keep him to that,” said Bolger.

“We could probably go back in trip but then we’d be looking for more pace which you don’t always get. He was keen today but he doesn’t do himself any harm. He’s an improver, he’s getting stronger all the time.”

O’Brien/Crosse treble

Joseph O’Brien and Shane Crosse bagged a treble on the night, including claiming both the juvenile maidens on the card.

Caroline Street in particular made a big impression when scoring on her official debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden for owner Marc Detampel.

The daughter of No Nay Never had been second in a barrier trial at Dundalk and showed the benefit of that experience.

She was prominent throughout in the mile contest and travelled well to lead a furlong and a half from home. The 5/2 joint-favourite quickened away inside the final furlong for a two-length win over Amusement.

“She was green and slowly away at Dundalk but we trialled her over six just to sharpen her a little bit. I thought today she broke much better and she travelled really sweetly,” said O’Brien.“She got a little unbalanced but once she hit top gear, she ran through the line very well.

“She’ll be jumping into a stakes race and I’d say she’ll have no problem coming back to seven.”

IN the opening Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden Montesilvano stepped forward nicely from his debut run to open his account. The Holy Roman Emperor colt has been sixth first time at Roscommon, after a tardy start, in testing conditions and was to the fore throughout this time.

Shane Crosse asked him for an effort over a furlong from home and the 11/2 shot kept on well to hold Queen Maedbh by three-quarters of a length. “He was much more professional today and I think that was a good maiden for an auction maiden. He’s a nice horse hopefully,” said Joseph O’Brien, who trains the colt for his mother Annemarie.

He added: “I think he’ll be fine on easier ground as well, he just missed the break last time and around there first time out it’s kind of game over when that happens.

“He could either go for a winners’ race or he could go into a nursery. There is also a listed race in Tipperary that could be an option.”

On Point

O’Brien and Crosse also landed the three-year-old-plus maiden over 10 furlongs when Point Gellibrand gained a deserved success in the colours of Lloyd Williams.

The Camelot colt went to post a 2/9 shot after a run of placed efforts and made no mistake, making all for a three-length win over Oh So Lovely.

“He was gelded since the last day and he’ll probably step back into a nice race the next time,” said O’Brien. “It probably wasn’t ideal making the running but it’s nice to get his head in front. He’ll get confidence from that.

“There is a listed race back here over a bit further and then there are handicaps on Champions Weekend worth a few quid so he could go for something like that.”

AMPESON turned out quickly to land a quick follow-up success in the seven-furlong handicap on the card. Patrick McKenna’s charge had scored at Fairyhouse the previous Sunday and recorded another convincing win, this time under Luke McAteer.

The 2/1 favourite swooped to lead a furlong from home and soon settled matters, going on to beat Shamrock Sprig by two and a half lengths.

“He did it easy the last day, and got a good hike. You’d be fearful coming back four days after his last run but he was that well in himself,” said McKenna.

Promising Amanirenas

In the preceding three-year-old event over the same trip, the Michael Grassick-trained Amanirenas made a winning start in handicap company.

The War Command filly had shown promise in three maidens starts but was an easy-to-back 14/1 shot.

She settled off a strong pace and travelled nicely to close a furlong out, finishing off well under Robbie Colgan to lead in the final 50 yards for a length success over Navagio.

“We liked her in the spring, she tweaked something at the back of her knee the last day and that’s why she hasn’t run for two months,” said Grassick, who trains the filly for Renata Coleman.

Nursing

“We’ve been slowly nursing her back and I honestly thought she’d need the run today but I felt she was well treated. Ideally, I wanted to go and win a maiden but I felt the handicapper had been generous to me.

“We’ll find a nice fillies’ handicap somewhere with her. She seems to stay the seven well and doesn’t mind the good ground so she’ll probably be out quick enough again.”

Viva La Hacienda

The Matthew Smith-trained La Hacienda was also a nice price when claiming the concluding mile-and-a-half handicap.

The 20/1 shot made swift progress on the outer to dispute two furlongs from home, under Declan McDonogh, and got the front over a furlong out to record a length-and-a-half win over S’All Good Man.

“We went slow and I had a lovely run around but we were going to sprint from the two and I needed to get going and get a bit closer,” said McDonogh. “It was the right move to make at the time, she quickened and put the race to bed. She’s a tough little thing.

“Matt’s horses are coming into form at the right time for Galway, he always does well there.”