A TILT at the Melbourne Cup is in the ‘thoughts’ of Dermot Weld, after his Harbour Wind showed doggedness aplenty to take the feature Irish Stallion Farms EBF Martin Molony Stakes.

On his first start since September, the Moyglare Stud Farm-owned four-year-old went to post the 6/5 favourite (from 2s) under Chris Hayes in this listed heat.

Settled in second, the ultra-consistent Nathaniel bay improved to dispute the lead early in the straight and was ridden to the front with a furlong and a half to go.

Rallied hard

Strongly pressed and narrowly headed by Dancing Tango inside the final 150 yards, he battled back in determined fashion and was a short-head in front at the line.

On what was a rare visit to the Patrickswell venue, Weld said in the aftermath: “The Melbourne Cup is a long way away but is in my thoughts. It is early days though and he has to step up.

“I have been fortunate to win this race a few times and it’s always special as my mother and father’s first winner in the 1950s was ridden by Martin Molony.”

Gangster’s paradise

The Moyglare silks came out the wrong side of a tight finish to the Ballyduane Stud Maiden, with their Mont St Michel (7/4 favourite) going down by a neck to Gangster Granny.

Trained by Jessica Harrington and owned by her son-in-law Richie Galway, the bay victor was tackling this extended mile and a half trip for the first time.

Settled in rear by Keithen Kennedy, the €40,000 yearling purchase made steady headway approaching the straight and improved into a share of the lead with a furlong and a half to go.

Narrow lead

Returned at 10/3, the 58-rated three year old gained a narrow lead inside the final 200 yards and maintained that advantage all the way to the line.

“She has been immature and gormless but in fairness to Jessie she has nurtured her and brought her along nicely,” Galway reported.

“I’m delighted to get Keithen a winner as he is a talented rider who is in Jessie’s every day.”

WHILE just denied aboard Dancing Tango in the feature, Declan McDonogh still came away from Greenmount Park with a near 122/1 treble.

Combining with Joseph O’Brien and Willie McCreery, the Co Meath pilot struck first aboard O’Brien’s Il Pellegrino in the opening Regeneron ‘Celebrating 10 Years In The Mid-West’ Maiden.

Despite a notable market drift (evens early out to a starting price of 5/2), the No Nay Never colt was ridden to the front over a furlong from home and kept on well from there, holding off the effort of Monasterboice by half a length.

“He had been off a while - I’m not sure the reason why, but he is a fine big horse and is progressing,” McDonogh said of the Annmarie O’Brien and Sue Magnier-owned victor.

Boss is best

The 2006 champion jockey doubled his tally aboard the well-backed One Boss in the 10 Years Of Regeneron Science To Medicine In Limerick Handicap.

On her first start for Willie McCreery, the Saxon Warrior four-year-old was briefly available at 40/1 for this mile contest, eventually going off at 6s in the colours of Rory O’Toole.

Towards rear in the early stages, the 62-rated bay made gradual progress on the outer from halfway and quickened smartly to lead inside the final furlong, going on to prevail by a length.

“She isn’t long with me and worked well a couple of times on grass. She is in foal to Bayside Boy and the whole thing was trying to get her to win,” McCreery, who was earlier on the mark with Dream Ticket at Down Royal, revealed.

Mission successful

McDonogh rounded off a fruitful afternoon by guiding Rapid Mission (4/1) to victory in the concluding Conference & Banqueting Facilities At Limerick Racecourse Handicap.

Trained by Joseph O’Brien, who later completed a treble on the day with Uxmal at Royal Ascot, the £330,000 yearling purchase was sluggish away from the stalls and raced in mid-division before making good headway into fourth approaching the straight.

Upped in trip to a mile and a half for the first time, the Zhang Yueshang-owned Frankel bay was pushed along to lead inside the final 200 yards and kept on well under pressure, coming home a length and a half clear of Qasbaz.

“He had some very good runs in Curragh maidens as a two-year-old and he won snug at the line,” McDonogh remarked.

Carroll quadruples his tally

GARY Carroll registered his second double in little over a week, completing his brace aboard the well-bred Quadruple in the Regeneron Limerick ‘Family Day At The Races’ Fillies Handicap.

By Frankel and out of classy Group 2-winning sprinter Soffia, the Ger Lyons-trained bay was beaten by just a neck at Naas last month and was sent off a 2/1 chance on what was her first start out of maiden company.

Breaking smartly and in front early, the Juddmonte-owned victor was soon relegated to second but regained the lead when pushed along over a furlong from home.

Clear of Katie

Soon ridden, she kept on well in the closing stages and was a length and three quarters clear of Katie Bairdie, who led for much of the race, at the line.

“It was nice to get that and it’s important to win with these well-bred fillies for Juddmonte,” Andrew Duff, representing Lyons, explained.

“She travels, stays well and ultimately getting blacktype is the main objective.”

Comfortable victory

Carroll earlier guided the Sheila Lavery-trained Anvika to a comfortable win in the Regeneron ‘A Decade In Limerick’ Handicap. In rear early on, the 13/2 chance (briefly touched 14s early) improved on the outer when pushed along from the two-furlong pole.

The €12,000 Tattersalls September Yearling Sale purchase was soon ridden and shot to the front inside the final 150 yards, eventually coming home a length and three quarters to the good.

Unseated by the Spyglass Syndicate-owned victor shortly after the line, Carroll quipped: “She wanted to do a lap of honour! She is a nice filly and hopefully will improve again. I liked her and think she can go forward.”