Seamie Heffernan had a day to remember at Naas on Sunday, winning the day's three big races.

His lucrative treble began when he partnered the Aidan O'Brien-trained Chief Little Hawk to win the first running of the €320,000 Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes. Later Heffernan won the €80,000 consolation race for horses balloted out of the feature aboard Sweet Gardenia, a 50/1 shot trained in Co Cork by John Murphy. In between Heffernan and O'Brien teamed up to win the Group 3 Irish EBF Stanerra Stakes with Passion.

Passion, who had finished third in the Irish Oaks on her penultimate start, made every yard of the running to win this 14-furlong contest.

Last seen in the Group 3 Give Thanks Stakes earlier this month, Passion was sent off a 7/2 chance. Heffernan set merely a moderate gallop and having earlier made good use of the stands rail, he took the field over to that side as the race began in earnest in the straight.

Traisha and favourite Kastasa, who had been on and off the bridle at points, tried to reel Passion back in, but Heffernan had saved a little and she eventually pushed on for a length-and-three-quarters verdict.

Heffernan said: “Billy Lee rode her in the (Irish) Oaks and she ran well and came out of the race well. She stays that trip and is probably maturing into her full strength now. She could run well in a Leger or the Park Hill.”

VALUABLE POT

Chief Little Hawk got the better of Monaasib in a thrilling finish to the inaugural Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes.

The six-furlong contest offered €149,200 to the winner and duly drew 19 runners, with Tom Dascombe’s British raider Devious Company sent off the 2/1 favourite following his second place in a sales race at York just three days ago.

However, he failed to take a hand in the finish, with the Aidan O’Brien-trained Chief Little Hawk and Kevin Prendergast’s Monaasib battling it out in the dying strides.

Chris Hayes looked to have made a winning move on Monaasib as he collared leader Measure Of Magic inside the distance, but Seamie Heffernan launched Chief Little Hawk up the stands side rail, with the Ballydoyle inmate responding in style.

He and Monaasib were neck and neck at the line, but Chief Little Hawk (22/1) got the nod by a short-head, with the pair two and a half lengths clear of another fast finisher, Mooniesta, in third.

Devious Company found little for pressure and finished ninth.

Heffernan said: “He was one of our Ascot horses and was impressive at Navan. The last day at the Curragh, he ran out past the line, so I was coming here fancying him today.

“Today was his first try at six furlongs and he got it really well. There is a chance that he might get another furlong and if he does, he’s got loads of speed to travel right.

“I thought I’d won, but at Killarney the other day I thought I’d won well and it was only a nose (on So Wonderful), so maybe my eyesight is not as good as it was!

“Ballyhane Stud deserves a huge amount of praise, not only for putting on this big race but also an €80,000 consolation race. It’s massive.”

Heffernan went to win the consolation race too aboard the John Murphy-trained Sweet Gardenia, a 57,000gns yearling purchase.

REST OF CARD

Trainer Johnny Feane celebrated a landmark listed success as Bounce The Blues sprang a 20/1 shock in the Owenstown Stud Stakes.

The daughter of Excelebration beat So Wonderful in a maiden over the same seven furlongs at this track on her most recent start, but she took a huge leap up the ladder as she held off Soul Search by half a length.

Feane said: “It’s great that she won. She has buckets of pace for seven furlongs and we could even drop her back to six. It was a bit of a shot in the dark, but we thought she was very good at home.

“Her form has worked out well from the last day, so we said we’d take a pop and it has all worked out great. That’s my first stakes winner. I’ve had a good few placed, but that’s the first stakes winner.”

Half Nutz (12/1) made amends for a disappointing effort last time out with a two-and-a-half-length win in the Weatherbys GSB Handicap.

Trainer Sheila Lavery said: “I’m delighted with that. We tried him over five and Wayne got off him the last day and said this was his trip. He’s improving. Last year he was running a bit free and just a bit hard on himself, but now he’s as sweet as a nut.

“We could try him over seven now if something comes up as he’s much easier to ride. It’s a great syndicate that own him and it’s such a pity that they can’t be here.”

Silver Spear and Kokura dead-heated for third, but following a stewards’ inquiry into possible interference, Silver Spear was placed third and Kokura fourth

MEADE WINNER

Noel Meade is looking forward to next month’s Irish Champions Weekend with Layfayette (5/1) after his victory in the Good Luck To Our 20 Lockdown Heroes Handicap.

He said: “I didn’t think he was going to win at any stage. I don’t know whether that was the ground or whether he’s gone lazy, but I suppose when he races like that it helps him to see out the trip.

“He’d been coming home every time and that’s the first time we pushed him out to that trip. I’d say he will run on Irish Champions Weekend if he gets in.”

The closing Heritage Hotel Handicap went to It’s All A Joke (22/1) for Ado McGuinness and Ronan Whelan.

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