IT was “mission accomplished” for King Cuan as he overcame trouble in running to land the big pot in the Goffs Sportsman Challenge at Naas on Thursday.

The Paddy Twomey-trained colt went to post a 4/7 shot in the €100,000 contest but looked in trouble when hampered over a furlong out as Jakajaro edged left on to the rail.

Billy Lee managed to conjure another run from the Tasleet colt as he quickened again to grab his rival in the closing stages and record a length success.

The winner was welcomed back by a large crowd from the Red Lily Racing Syndicate, which includes some familiar racing faces, and Twomey said afterwards: “The syndicate is pretty much Naas-based so it was great for the horse to come here and do that. It’s mission accomplished.

“Things didn’t go that smoothly for him but he was able to overcome it with ability. I’d say that will be it for this year.”

David Marnane saddled the runner-up Jakajaro in the feature race and gained some compensation later on the card when Basilah Bear, also in the colours of MRC International, ran out a game winner of the GAIN Nursery.

The Kodi Bear filly had been placed on her previous two starts and gained a deserved success, leading over two furlongs out for Luke McAteer to record a length-and-a-quarter win.

“She deserved that, she bumped into a handicap blip in Killarney,” said Marnane.

“I think she’s going to be a good filly, she probably has more gears than we’re giving her credit for.

“I’d say she’ll enjoy a bit better ground. She’ll come back for the fillies’ handicap at Leopardstown late next month and then we’ll put her away after that.”

DYLAN Browne McMonagle partnered his first winner for Aidan O’Brien when scoring on newcomer Military in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

The Siyouni colt went to post a 2/7 shot in the colts and geldings’ event, over just shy of six furlongs, and was produced to lead a furlong and a half from home.

He was a touch green in the closing stages, edging to his right, but was always in control as he posted a two and three-quarter length win.

“He was working like a lovely colt. We knew that was probably plenty short for him but it was to get him out and get him started. He will come forward lovely from that,” said O’Brien.

“You’d be very happy with him. He could maybe go to the Middle Park or the (Prix Jean-Luc) Lagardere. Dylan said he was very green but he would have learned a lot there today.”

Another eyeing stakes prizes after making a winning debut was Bluedrum, who claimed the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden in good style.

Kicked on

The Jessica Harrington-trained daughter of Blue Point kicked on over a furlong from home in the finale to record an impressive two-and-a-half length win for Shane Foley.

Assistant Kate Harrington said: “She was a big backward filly and everything she’s done with us she’s been very good.

“It would be nice to pick up a bit of blacktype with her and you’d maybe look at the Staffordstown (Stud Stakes) with her. That would be a nice stepping stone.

“It’s lovely for the owner/breeder, Francis Jennings, it’s a pity he didn’t have a double as he was second in the first race.”

Harrington’s charge Emerald Banner had been runner-up to Prime Art in the opening fillies’ maiden.

The Johnny Murtagh-trained filly held her challenge late on to record a half-length win at odds of 15/2.

The Churchill filly, owned in partnership by Kevin Doyle, John Magnier and David Nagle, had been fourth on her last visit to the track behind subsequent listed winner Kitty Rose.

“I fancied her the last time and maybe seven stretched her a little bit, but as everyone says it was a very hot race the last day as well,” said Murtagh.

“She’s a nice filly and she’s progressing all the time. Ben said she will get seven but stick to six at the moment.

“I haven’t spoken to the owners yet but maybe we could give her one more run if there is a stakes race for her.”

THE Andy Oliver-trained Bright Stripes was another short-priced favourite to collect on the card, getting the job done at 4/9 in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden.

Billy Lee, who had claimed the feature, doubled up on the Starspangledbanner colt when he hit the front over a furlong from home to post a length success.

“I hate an odds-on favourite because you are a sitting duck, you are there to be shot at,” said Oliver, who trains the winner for Paul Hardy.

“He did it smoothly enough, got to the front and probably thought he had done enough.

“We’ve always liked him and I think he was unlucky (when third) in the Ballyhane Stakes, he was slowly away and was the best of the finishers.

“He’s in the final (of the auction series) here and we’ll also probably look at the Killavullan Stakes.”

Best-backed

Kendall Roy was the best backed winner on the card when leaving previous form behind to claim the TRM Calphormin Nursery for trainer Kate McGivern.

Chris Hayes produced the Twilight Son colt with the strong run inside the final furlong as the 4/1 shot (9/1 in morning) posted a half-length win over Milliethemollie.

“The ground ended up coming up soft enough for him. If it had been on the good side of yielding I probably wouldn’t have run him,” said McGivern afterwards.

“The tongue-tie seemed to help. He just didn’t get home the last few times but he never sounds like he does anything with his wind. I said I’d throw it on and it seemed to work a treat.