BEN Coen and Johnny Murtagh teamed up for a quickfire 44/1 double when taking the opening two races at Gowran Park on Wednesday evening with newcomers Lady Onyx and Cadeau Belle.

Lady Onyx set the ball rolling in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden. The 8/1 chance, sporting the mainly green colours of JP Murtagh Racing, got on top inside the final 100 yards to score by a length and a half from Neowise.

“She always went well last year but went a bit wrong behind,” said the Curragh trainer. “I think she was just growing and is one of those big, rangy fillies.

“I thought she might need the run today but Ben said she was very professional. She got through the ground (soft, yielding in places) but will appreciate it a bit better. He said she gave him a good feel and it’s a nice surprise to see her win like that.”

The opening race victory obviously increased confidence in Cadeau Belle, available at 10/1 earlier in the day and supported on track into 4/1, who also scored at the first time of asking in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. The daughter of Harry Angel headed 5/2 favourite Finsceal Go Deo inside the final furlong and kept on well to beat that rival by a length and a quarter.

“I was more confident after the first race as the three fillies (Hope And Innocence finished fourth in this race) all went up Walsh’s Hill nicely together last week,” said Murtagh who trains the winner for his wife Orla.

“This is a nice filly – big, tall and should improve a nice bit from the run. That’s a nice trip for her (seven furlongs) and she definitely wants better ground. It’s nice to be winning these maidens this time of year because you know you have decent horses. They are going to have to step up but they could.”

JOEY Sheridan was another rider in double form, successfully partnering Secret Sauce and Sequoiaspirit.

The latter belied odds of 16/1 when overcoming a break of 196 days in the Racing Again May 23rd Handicap, drawing clear inside the final furlong to beat Bolero by three and three-quarter lengths.

“He’s a hardy little horse and we gave him a good break this time,” said Ray Hackett, who trains the six-year-old near Toomevara for his father Liam.

“He just loves his work and thrives from work and racing. The dead ground helped him and he’ll mix it now between the Flat and hurdles for the summer. We’ll be aiming for the likes of Killarney and he was unlucky in Listowel last year.”

Secret Sauce opened his account in decisive fashion when ridden to lead under two furlongs out in the Golf At Gowran Claiming Race and the 6/5 favourite, trained by Fozzy Stack for owner/breeder Michael Begley, kept on strongly to beat Miss Langmore by nearly four lengths. There were no claims for any of the eight runners.

Ranko Express, owned and bred by Dr Ronan Tynan, made a successful transition to handicap company when leading well inside the final furlong to beat the front-running Water Mint by a length and three quarters in the Societies Welcome At Gowran Golf Club Handicap.

The easy-to-back 8/1 shot is trained and ridden by Andy Slattery senior and junior and the successful jockey said: “Early on it looked like he was going to go sprinting but has got more like his sister Pineapple Express as he’s grown and developed. He’s a big, raw horse and hopefully he can keep improving.”

ESCULENTA, owned and bred by Ballygallon Stud, made all to get off the mark in the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap at odds of 15/2.

The four-year-old daughter of Acclamation asserted under Dylan Browne McMonagle to go about two lengths clear over 100 yards out but desperately needed the line as Fools Glory flashed home to get within a head.

“It’s brilliant to get her head in front and that will probably do her confidence good,” said local winning trainer Ray Cody. “Dylan said she has a great cruising speed but flattens out a bit in the finish. The owners would love to get a bit of blacktype for her, maybe a listed race at a sharp track making the running. Dylan said you could drop her back to seven. She is a good honest filly and it’s a lovely pot to win.”

A Shin Undine (17/2) opened her account at the 16th attempt in division one of the Save 33% Buying Tickets Online Handicap when just getting the better of a final furlong duel with Narlita by a nose.

“I really loved the way she stuck her neck down there - it was a very close call!” said a delighted winning trainer Denise ‘Sneezy’ Foster. “Her last run was great and I was hoping she would step forward from that. I haven’t done much with her since then as she is lean, narrow and doesn’t take an awful lot of work. It’s just a matter of keeping her sweet.

“The (Never Give Up) syndicate are relatives of Mark Enright so I’m glad that he rode her today. They also own Molly’s Gamble and they should have fun with this one as well.”

Division two of the extended nine-furlong handicap went to You Owe Me Money (100/30 joint-favourite) who was following up a win here seven days earlier over a mile. Dean Curran was again in the saddle on the Darren Bunyan-trained gelding who headed Khafaaq about 100 yards out to score by a length and three-quarters.

“She got the trip. Dean gave her a fabulous ride and nursed her home” said winning owner Ger O’Leary, who indicated the Awtaad mare will go for something similar in the next two or three weeks.