AIDAN O’Brien enjoyed a super Saturday in Navan with a five-timer that included the three listed races on the card.

Newcomer Aesop’s Fables began the winning streak in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for juveniles over an extended five furlongs.

The easy-to-back 7/4 chance was pushed along by Ryan Moore, in the Tabor, Smith, Magnier and Westerberg silks, to lead at the furlong pole and kept on well to move two and a quarter lengths clear at the winning post.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “He’s a very smart horse and has done all his homework very nicely. We’ll try and give him one run before (Royal) Ascot - it will either be in the valuable winners’ race at Naas or there’s a winners of one at the Curragh on June 1st. Then hopefully on to Ascot.

“He’s obviously from the family of Washington DC who was a precocious two-year-old.”

Smart New York

New York City (5/1) built upon a seven-length maiden success at this track when following up in the Listed Committed Stakes over an extended five furlongs for Westerberg, Magnier, Tabor and Smith. The Invincible Spirit colt broke smartly under Wayne Lordan and was still blazing away at the business end as he fended off 11/8 favourite Straight Answer by a length.

O’Brien said: “We thought he would do plenty last year but he took until this year to win. Wayne said he is still a bit babyish when he got there. That’s what you like, he went again (when the second came to him).

“The plan will be to go to the Commonwealth Cup with him. Looking at him you would hope he would get six (furlongs).”

Classy Concert

The next listed contest on the card was the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes and it went the way of 2/1 favourite Concert Hall after a battle with Magical Lagoon. Moore’s mount joined Magical Lagoon in the final 150 yards of this mile-and-a-quarter test and got the verdict by a short head for Smith, Magnier, Tabor and Westerberg.

“She has done well over the winter and she liked the trip,” O’Brien said. “She is out of an Oaks winner (Was). As she goes up (in trip), she should get better. She has a bit of class.”

When asked if her next stop is Epsom, he replied: “Yes, I think so.”

Kyprios improves

Moyglare Stud Farm’s Kyprios showed improvement for a step up in trip in the mile-and-six-furlong Listed Vintage Crop Stakes.

He is a full-brother to dual Irish St Leger winner Search For A Song who was outgunned in second here. The 5/1 shot beat the 6/5 favourite by two and three-quarter lengths with Moore in the plate. This gave the jockey his treble on the card.

O’Brien said: “He went to Ascot last year and jumped out under the stalls and he hasn’t run since then.

“He looks like a stayer with a bit of class, he relished that trip. We liked him a lot last year and he has done well since then. He relaxes and he quickens. If we are going to Ascot, we could have a look at the Saval Beg (at Leopardstown in May). We might not travel him before Ascot but we will see.”

Kyprios is also a half-brother to Rich History, the Dubawi horse who is standing his first season at Kedrah House Stud in Cahir this year.

Sweet Arbutus

O’Brien’s ‘nap hand’ was brought up by newcomer Arbutus in the concluding Racing Next On Saturday May 14th Maiden. Seamus Heffernan’s mount made sustained headway along the inner to collar stablemates Newfoundland and Realism in the closing stages.

The 12/1 chance went on by a length and a quarter for Westerberg, Magnier, Tabor and Smith. He led home a one-two-three for O’Brien (Newfoundland second and Realism third).

Chris Armstrong said: “He stays very well and he liked the ground. He loved the one mile, five furlongs. He got a lovely ride from Seamus who just kept picking them off.

“We’ll look for a conditions race and see what sort of a mark he gets. Ryan’s horse (Moore on 11/8f Newfoundland) ran very well.”

A sunny day for Hayes

TWO jockeys savoured their first victories in Navan. Amy Jo Hayes guided Sunset Nova between horses to land the first division of the Kilberry Apprentice Handicap over the extended five furlongs.

The Men Of Forty Eight Syndicate’s horse was backed from 12/1 to 17/2 and kept on well to come in by a length and a quarter.

Hayes said: “It means the world. I’ve been beaten on the line but today was my day! I wasn’t expecting that at all, he winged it home and came up in between them. I looked around me and there was nobody beside me!

“I’ve worked in (trainer) Andy Slattery’s for the last two years and I’m apprenticed to him. He has looked after me and Sunset Nova always gave me a good spin.

“I’m from Fethard in Tipperary and I’m 21.”

First winner for Caffrey

MAGNETIC North made all under Adam Caffrey in the mile-and-five Donaghmore Handicap. The pair asserted in the final quarter of a mile and the closers were unable to reel them in.

After passing the post a length and three-quarters clear on the 25/1 shot for Dooley Thoroughbreds, Caffrey said: “I’m delighted with that now, first winner on the board. It is tough but, by God, it is worth it when something like that happens!

“I’m 18 and it is one of my local tracks, I’m only 20/25 minutes away from here. I’m signed on to (trainer) Ado (McGuinness) and he has been very good to me.

“He stays all day and that was the plan to jump out and make it if we can. He pinged the lids and he was gone. I just kept it simple the whole way.”

Stanhope (12/1) came up the hill strongly for Siobhan Rutledge in the second split of the Kilberry Apprentice Handicap. The eight-year-old gelding struck the front in the final 100 yards and came home by a length for trainer John McConnell.

Special Stanhope

Rutledge said: “It was a special win. Stanhope is a very special horse for the Galaxy Horse Racing Syndicate. They are big supporters of John and they are big supporters of myself.

“We have both been going through a bit of a quiet spell - the Galaxy Horse Racing Syndicate and myself personally in my career. It is a big relief. He is one of those horses that has to be in the form for it. He enjoyed himself today, so did I!”