CLASS came to the fore as the Aidan O’Brien-trained Heavens Gate took the valuable Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes at a damp Naas on bank holiday Monday.

Placed in pattern company at Royal Ascot and the July meeting at Newmarket, the daughter of Churchill was sent off the 4/6 favourite under Ryan Moore and was prominent throughout.

In front two furlongs from home, she claimed a comfortable length-and-a-quarter success over Fiery Lucy.

“Ryan has always said she wants to go up to seven furlongs, so we’ll do something like that now,” said O’Brien of his winner who is owned by the Coolmore partners.

“She’s very straightforward, kind and relaxed. She’s happy to make her own running and very happy to get a lead, and is comfortable on soft ground or fast.

“She’s a fine, big, powerful filly and it’s rare to get one as straightforward as she is.”

Odds-on for Twomey

An easy winner of a Cork maiden on stable debut, Firebird had no trouble landing odds of 1/14 in the Taste Of Kildare At Naas Racecourse Race.

The daughter of Lope De Vega, owned by Arabian Bloodstock, chased clear leader Kay’s Flower before sweeping to the front over a furlong out and came away in the hands of Billy Lee to account for Matter Of Fact by six and a half lengths.

“She won well in Cork and this was an obvious next race for her. You’d like to think that it’s a big part of her education completed and hopefully she can go forward from here,” said Paddy Twomey.

“Her grandmother won the Matron and she bred Blue Stocking who won the Pretty Polly and was second in the King George the other day. Her sister was second in the Sandringham.

“Billy said she’ll get further but we might stick at six furlongs for the moment. She’s entered in the Ballyogan back here later in the month.”

Apercu fights tough

BILLY Lee doubled up on Apercu (5/2 favourite) who produced a game performance to win the R. C. Bagot Handicap over and extended mile and two furlongs.

The daughter of Elzaam tracked the leaders but came off the bridle early in the straight. Responding to her rider’s urgings, she challenged from two furlongs out and forged to the front inside the final furlong to beat Tachos by half a length.

Andy Oliver, who trains the four-year-old for Team Valor International LLC, said: “We weren’t sure about the ground but we felt we had to try her.

“She was very tough, Billy gave her a great ride and put her in a great position.

“I thought three out we might be in trouble but he said she was just barely doing enough and she clicked into gear. I think the cheekpieces helped her and I liked her attitude.”

Third win

Secret Magician, fitted with cheekpieces for the first time, recorded his third career success in the Dickie & Biddy White Memorial Handicap.

Wayne Hassett’s mount raced close to the pace and led a furlong out before holding on by half-a-length from Dynamic Force. The 11/2 chance is trained by Martin Hassett for his wife Deirdre.

“That was good, he’s been threatening to do that,” said the winning handler. “He never lets us down, in fairness to him, and Wayne was delighted with him.

“He stayed at it and we’re contemplating that we might even go up to a mile with him now. He started off over a mile-two and he came back but now we might go the other way.”

Built on debut

Super Exceed, fifth at the Curragh last month, built on that seasonal debut to land the mile Alto Equine Building Solutions Fillies Maiden.

Seamie Heffernan settled the 10/1 chance in mid-division and brought her with a steady challenge down the outer in the straight to beat market leader Eternal Reign by a neck.

Tom Mullins, who trains the winner for his wife Helen, said: “We always thought a bit of her, she’s only learning.”

“She had the maestro on board and I was delighted to have him. I love his experience and his way with fillies.

“She’d like a bit better ground and we were disappointed to see the rain coming. Things went a little bit against her, she was a little bit far back but she was settled so he said he’d leave her there.”

Mehmar makes it from the front

THE Michael O’Callaghan-trained Mehmar made it two-from-two this season with a fine front-running performance in the six furlong Fern Lane Handicap.

Colin Keane asked his mount to kick on by a couple of lengths over a furlong from home and the 7/4 favourite came home a length and a half in front of Collective Power.

“He’s going the right way and is making up for lost time,” said O’Callaghan, who trains the winner for the MyRacehorse syndicate.

“Colin said he’s very straightforward, pings the gates. We might go to the drawing board now and make a plan. We’ll progress our way up.”

Two from three

Hero Of The Hour (4/1) made it two-from-three since joining Tom McCourt when landing the Curragh to Curragh Cycle Apprentice Handicap at Naas.

James Ryan took the mount again on David Hoey’s sprinter having partnered him to a dead-heat success at Down Royal last month.

The Lord Kanaloa gelding came to challenge a furlong from home and got on top in the closing stages to record a half-length win over finisher Viva Voce.

“He’s been very well and he’s enjoying it,” said McCourt.

“James was good on him as well, if anything he said he got to the front a bit too soon on him. He thinks the longer you wait, the better.

“I thought getting 10lb for dead-heating was stiff for a seven-year-old. I got on to Mark Bird (handicapper) about it but it looks like he was right.”