EARL Of Tyrone successfully made the step up to stakes company last Friday week as the Paddy Twomey-trained four-year-old gelding landed Limerick’s featured Listed Martin Molony Stakes, under a clever ride from Billy Lee.

Lee was prominent throughout on Earl Of Tyrone (9/4) and by arriving with his challenge on the outside two furlongs out, also kept 4/5 favourite Raise You in a pocket behind the leaders, by keeping a tight racing-line.

Earl Of Tyrone quickened in the final furlong and had enough in reserve to hold faster-finishing Raise You, who failed to hit top gear, by a length and a quarter.

The Robert Moran-owned winner was completing a recent hat-trick of wins and Twomey said: “He hasn’t put a foot wrong all spring and I thought he was good the last day at the Curragh. I’ve been happy with him at home since and I said to Billy that I thought he’d go well in this.

“He won a win-and-you’re-in qualifier for the Ebor the last day at the Curragh but I wasn’t keen to run him in the Ebor from out of the handicap. He’ll run there now and will probably go straight there.

“Billy (Lee) is very good every day he rides.”

Trevaunance triumphs

Thursday’s Gold Cup-winning colours were carried to victory in the Ballyduane Stud (Fillies) Race by Moyglare Stud’s Trevaunance (11/4) for another of Thursday’s Royal Ascot winners, trainer Jessica Harrington.

Moyglare’s Eva-Maria Bucher-Haefner won the Gold Cup with the Aidan O’Brien-trained Kyprios and 40 minutes earlier, Harrington’s Magical Lagoon had landed the Ribblesdale Stakes, for owner Zhang Yuesheng.

Smart

Trevaunance made a winning reappearance on her first run since September, quickening smartly to lead at the furlong pole, to beat Galleria Borghese and Show Of Stars.

Winning jockey Scott McCullagh reported: “She has done it well and was the highest-rated (100) filly in the race. She has really done well from last year to this year.

“I got a nice lead around and kept things simple. It was her first run back so I didn’t want to make too much use of her but she hit the line well and I think she will get further no problem.

“She will step forward from that run as it was her first run for 264 days. The horses have hit form.

McCullagh later completed a double, from two rides, steering the Oliver McKiernan-trained, Keep The Faith Syndicate-owned L’Un Deux Trois (9/1) to a nose win in the Regeneron Ireland Apprentice Handicap.

McCullagh double

The grey son of Mastercraftsman led at the line beating runner-up Tudor Manor by the minimum margin and McCullagh reported: “I rode him too handy the last day at Fairyhouse and he was a bit keen. I suggested to go for an apprentices’ race, as they go a good gallop, and when he races behind the bridle he finishes. He had come down to a mark where he was competitive.

“Mr McKiernan has been good to me and has given me a good few spins.”

REGALLY bred Waterville (1/1 favourite) put in a smart performance to win the concluding Regeneron Ireland Day At The Races Handicap under Seamie Heffernan, quickening in the closing stages for a six-length win over Rich Belief.

Aidan O’Brien’s representative Chris Armstrong stated: “Aidan has always liked him, he has worked well at home and has had a couple of good runs. He is starting to put it together and might have a bit of a rest now for a while and could come back for an autumn campaign.

Great Voltigeur

“He did it easy enough, we’ll see what the handicapper does as there are plenty of good staying handicaps and something like the Great Voltigeur (August at York) could also be an option.

“Hopefully he realises the potential that Aidan and the team have always held him in. These staying distances could be his forte as he strengthens up and matures.”

O’Brien’s Gallery

Joseph O’Brien was on the mark at Limerick, winning the Regeneron Ireland Science Rated Race with the F&N Partnership’s National Gallery (5/2 favourite).

Jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle was completing a double and following the race O’Brien’s assistant Brendan Powell said: “He is a grand horse and while they put the cheekpieces on him, he is genuine. He said he wasn’t quickening at the line but was galloping through it.

“He is a nice moving horse and stays that trip well.”

JOHNNY Levins enjoyed an excellent result in the opening Regeneron Ireland Employee Claiming Race as his own Salt Whistle Bay (14/1, from 18s) headed stablemate Tai Sing Yeh (17/2, from 7s) close home for a one-two for the Curragh-based trainer.

It was Browne McMonagle’s opening winner and he later commented: “That’s my first winner for Johnny and my third ride.

“He is a grand big horse and he (Levins) was quietly fancying him as he ran a bit keen with Donagh the last day. The step back in trip was the key.”

Runner-up Tai Sing Yeh was later claimed by James McAuley for €15,000.