A SURPRISE visit by US legend John Velazquez was the big talking point at Naas on Wednesday as the Hall Of Fame jockey had his first ride on Irish soil.

The three-time Kentucky Derby winner partnered De Janeiro for Dermot Weld and close family friend Maurice Regan in the Tinnakill House Maiden.

She had to settle for fifth in the sprint contest though behind impressive winner Over The Blues.

Pat Foley’s charge looked smart as she scored on her second start, in the race run over just shy of six furlongs.

Luke McAteer led over two furlongs from home on the Bungle Inthejungle filly who quickened away smartly before easing down late on for a two-length win.

Foley trains the 2/5 winner for owner/breeder Jim Browne and said afterwards: “I’m delighted with her, she did that pretty well. As Luke said it’s kind of a matter of getting from A to B with her but you never know for sure,” said Foley.

The winner is a half-sister to smart types in Yermanthere, Yerwanthere and Special Wan and Foley added: “They are all a speedy family but this one is the only one that could go over five. The four of them have all won their maidens for us now. It’s a fair broodmare that Jim has.

Improve

“She’s probably the strongest of the lot of them and with being a sprinter all she’ll do is improve.

“There is a listed race back here in a month’s time over this trip so that would seem to be ideal for her.”

Regan may have been out of luck with De Janeiro but was able to lead in a winner in his own colours later on the card when Mr King took the apprentice handicap for Ger Lyons.

The 15/8 favourite was given a well-timed hold up ride by James Ryan as he stayed on strongly to lead in the closing stages of the mile contest and beat Barbapapa by a length and a-half.

“He’s a grand horse. As Gary Carroll says, at home he’s a group horse but he just hasn’t brought that to the track yet,” said Lyons.

“He was in his own grade and won like a good horse.

“The cherry on the cake is that Maurice is home, I don’t see much of him at all so it’s nice to give him a winner when he’s here.”

HANALIA quickened up in style to land the feature event on the card, the Listed Al Shira’aa Racing EBF Naas Oaks Trial.

Johnny Murtagh’s charge was taking a jump in class in the 10-furlong contest after a Curragh maiden success last month.

Ben Coen’s mount missed the kick and had to weave through the field in the straight before bursting into the lead in the closing stages for a three-quarters-of-a-length win over Bellezza.

The 16/1 winner had been 25/1 before racing and Murtagh, who trains the Sea The Stars filly for the Aga Khan, said afterwards: “She always showed us plenty. She was one of the ones we really liked and were looking forward to her this year.

“She’s not big but when she relaxes early, he has a good turn of foot and it worked out very well today.

“She’s got a bit of class and it’s nice to get a listed winner because it looked like a very competitive race this morning.

Confident

“We were coming here confident and she did a nice piece of work during the week. I was surprised she was 25/1 but that’s the kind of race it was.

“I entered her this morning in a Group 3 at the Curragh over a mile and one in three weeks’ time. I’d definitely bring her back to a mile and one rather than going a mile and a half at this stage.”

Another filly likely to tackle stakes company on her next outing is the Dermot Weld-trained Red Viburnum after her victory in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

The Moyglare Stud-owned filly was making her first start since finishing fifth in last season’s Moyglare Stud Stakes and she went to post a 4/9 shot in the mile contest.

Chris Hayes tracked the leaders on the Frankel filly before sending her to the front over a furlong from home. She was always doing enough late on to hold Evening Blossom by half a length.

“She was just slow coming to hand this year so I took my time with her and hopefully the patience will pay dividends,” said Weld.

“She’ll come on for it and she’s going to be a fitter, sharper filly the next day. Don’t be surprised if I go back to seven with her.”

In the opening Dooley Insurance Group Irish EBF Maiden, Merrily was another to land the odds in good style.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained filly led a furlong and a half from home under Ryan Moore and repelled the challenge of Say Yes To Dreams in the closing stages to post a length-and-a-quarter success at odds of 4/6 in the Derrick Smith colours.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said afterwards: “She’s a smart filly. It was Ryan’s first time sitting on her and he really liked her.

“She had a lovely run down in Listowel the first time. This isn’t her ideal trip but the race presented itself and we thought we’d give it a go and it worked out. She’s probably put herself in the mix for the Silver Flash.”

DANNY Murphy had a welcome winner when Power Mode proved very game in the ARKequine To Stockists Near You Handicap.

The 8/1 shot was soon in front in the race, run over just shy of six furlongs, and found plenty for Colin Keane when joined by Moltophino in the closing stages, edging a photo finish by a short-head.

“I had a disaster after I started. I had four winners the first month and then the whole thing stopped,” said Murphy.

“We got in all these new horses and they brought viruses from the sales and this and that. I’m delighted for Gay and Annette (O’Callaghan) as they had a horse with me last year, Capital Guarantee, when I was with Kieran Cotter.

“They rang me and said they could sell him to England and when we sold him he won three in a row.”

In the Kildare Chamber Handicap, over the minimum five, Turn Up The Beat sprang a 25/1 surprise having been as big as 66/1 in the morning.

David Barry’s charge came with a strong surge, under Wayne Hassett, to lead inside the final furlong and beat Ginormous by half a length.

The trainer’s brother Ronan said: “We thought a bit of him as a two-year-old, he was very fast but wouldn’t stay.

“We’ve been lobbing away with him on deep sand at home because we’re National Hunt people and I think it stood to him today as he toughed it out.

“I thought he might need the run to sharpen him up but he’s a grand horse and I’m not shocked.”