JOSEPH O’Brien enhanced his already smashing record with fillies joining his yard from other stables as Indian Wish delivered her second listed win in the top trainer’s care in Wednesday’s feature Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cairn Rouge Stakes.

Declan McDonogh measured the fractions just right on the Annette Kelly-owned four-year-old, who didn’t get the rub of the green on her previous start when beaten four and three quarters of a length in the Kensington Palace Fillies’ Handicap at Royal Ascot.

There were no hard-luck stories this time, though, and the daughter of The Grey Gatsby proved a level above her rivals, running out a length-and-three-quarters winner over Sandringham Stakes fourth Unless.

Brendan Powell, assistant to the winning trainer, said: “The ground was probably a bit quick at Ascot but she ran well. Joseph put the cheekpieces on today to sharpen her up around here and it was a great idea.

“Declan said they went sprinting pace early and she was struggling to go with them. Once she got organised, she came on the bridle and won nicely.

“She’s a massive filly, is tough and keeps improving.”

Hat-trick for Londonofficecallin

Seamie Heffernan found one too good in the main event aboard Unless but landed the final flat race of the 2023 Killarney July Festival when the Eric McNamara-trained Londonofficecallin made it three wins on the bounce in the Every Race Live From Killarney Only On Racing TV Handicap over a mile and six furlongs.

The 7/2 favourite, owned by the In Bounds Syndicate, is clearly a handicapper on the up and had too much for recent Tipperary winner Belgoprince by a length and a quarter.

Connections should have plenty of options with the dual-purpose six-year-old, who is now up to a mark of 95 over hurdles after winning a handicap in that sphere at Punchestown last month.

McNamara said: “He’s been a lucky horse and has gone the right way. He has options and can run on the flat or over hurdles - he has a lot going for him.

“If he gets into a race at Galway, it’s very likely that he will run there next.”

PADDY Twomey made it three winners in the space of three days at Killarney (from just four runners) when exciting two-year-old Deepone maintained his unbeaten record in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Race over a mile.

Vimal Khosla’s Leopardstown maiden winner won in ready style under Billy Lee by three and a half lengths as 1/6 favourite,

Twomey said: “We wanted to educate him. It mightn’t have been ideal to make the running, but he came from further back last time and has now won in different ways.

“I think he’s a nice horse and could stay 10 or 12 furlongs next year.”

Stepping up

Like London buses, connections of Everylittlestep were forced to wait some time for the five-year-old mare to get off the mark but she has now rattled off back-to-back wins in less than a month.

The Yvonne Latta-trained 2/1 favourite landed the first division of the Rose Hotel Handicap under Colin Keane for owner William Powell-Harris.

Another handicapper in an excellent place is the Johnny Levins-trained Chimeric (12/1), who was delivered beautifully by Donagh O’Connor to defy a wide draw in stall 16 in the second division of the race for David and Mark Hopkins.

The three-quarters-of-a-length success marked Levins’ 100th domestic flat win.

UNEXPOSED three-year-old Genuine Article could be Galway-bound after coming home nicely to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over a mile for Dermot Weld, Chris Hayes and Juddmonte.

Third in a maiden at this venue on his only other start as a two-year-old last October, the Muhaarar gelding (out of a Frankel mare) shaped as though he could well have more to come in seeing off Simpson’s Paradox by three quarters of a length. The 11/10 favourite hit the line well to get on top close home.

Hayes said: “He’s a smashing horse. He took his time to come to hand and it was a good bit of placing. I don’t know how strong a maiden it was but it was nice to see him do it the way he did and he will improve a tonne.

“We’ll see what the handicapper does with him but there’s a nice three-year-old handicap at Galway that might suit.”

Roderick another for McAuley

Owner-trainer James McAuley brought up his 25th domestic claiming race win since November 2020 when 20/1 outsider Roderick came out on top in a tight finish to the Complete Coverage Of Irish Racing Only On Racing TV Claiming Race under Gary Carroll.

The winning team appeared to have a stronger chance on paper in Is That Love (SP 13/8) but he couldn’t get on top after appearing to have every chance in third.

Roderick had some useful form in France for his previous connections and was making just his third appearance for the Co Dublin yard.

There were four stable switches after successful claims in the race. The winner joined Denis Hogan and the Premier Racing Club for €10,000, Is That Love was picked up by John Nallen for the same price, seventh-placed Might And Mercy went to Pat McKenna for €8,000 and the eighth New Route will now be trained by Shane Duffy after changing hands for €10,000.

Jabbar back on song

Darren Bunyan and Dean Curran added their names to the Killarney scoresheet when lightly raced four-year-old Jabbar took the step up to a mile and three furlongs in his stride to win the Plaza Hotel Handicap.

Previously trained by Ger O’Leary after joining Lance Bloodstock Limited from Andrew Balding and Al Shaqab Racing, the 10/1 shot was registering his first success on these shores.

Curran, who claims 7lb, said: “We were confident he’d run a big race today; our horses are starting to hit form. They are in a very good place and I’m in a very good place being in the yard. I’d like to thank Darren and Ger for supporting me.”

Suspension for claimer

CLEAR overuse of whip and not giving his mount sufficient time to respond saw jockey Iqbal Khan receive a 10-day ban for his ride on runner-up Lucky Queen in the first division of the Rose Hotel Handicap.

It was the 7lb claimer’s first mount in Ireland, riding for trainer Pat Murphy, though he apparently partnered 17 winners when previously riding in Pakistan.