SWEET Thing led home a one-two for Andy Oliver in the Simonstown Maiden over the extended five furlongs.
The Starspangledbanner filly belied a market drift out to 7/2 to score by a length and a quarter for the owner/trainer.
Billy Lee had her tracking the leaders and she travelled smoothly to dispute the lead with Platino Bianco a furlong out. She soon took over and kept on nicely to see off a staying-on Keepcalmandsailon (125/1).
Oliver said: “Very nice run at Down Royal (in second) - the rain came and it literally went to quite testing ground, so she handled that but obviously inexperience beat her first-time out.
“Today it was very simple. Billy looked to have loads in hand, looked to have the race in control. The only danger was our other horse coming!”
Lee doubled up aboard Positive Energy (10/3 joint-favourite) in Division 2 of the Yellow Furze Handicap over 10 furlongs.
Willie McCreery’s three-year-old gelding made sustained headway in the straight and progressed to lead a furlong down. From there, he ran on well to post a two-and-a-half-length success for the Positive Energy Syndicate.
Furnishing
The trainer said: “He is only furnishing into himself - he is a big, raw horse by a good sire in Make Believe. I think he is a very underrated stallion. I love him and they are all very honest and try hard, no-nonsense type of horses. That’s exactly what he is.”
Isambard Brunel looked ready for a step up in class after making virtually all in the Navan Racecourse Welcomes Our Local Community Maiden over an extended mile.
The 1/2 favourite powered away from Red King in the final furlong to win decisively by three and a half lengths for Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier and Michael Tabor.
Chris Armstrong, representing Aidan O’Brien, said: “He appreciates the better ground.
“He did it nicely and he will have no problem stepping up in class.
“If the ground was still nice in another couple of weeks, he could look at one of those group races or he will be a horse to look forward to for next year.”
MAJESTIC Wave wore down clear leader Chester Nimitz to land the Arkle Bar Median Auction Maiden over the extended five furlongs for owner Hasan Mefareh Alajmi.
Ronan Whelan’s mount took over inside the final furlong and stayed on best by half a length to reward favourite backers at 15/8.
John O’Donoghue said: “I didn’t know if he was a six or a seven-furlong horse, probably somewhere in the middle. I think the stiff just shy of six suited him today and a little bit of ease in the ground.
“He will (get further) and he might be one to geld, and go into next year as a six and seven-furlong horse, but I’m not sure - plans are very fluid at the minute.”
Gazelle D’or (3/1) was a morning-price mover for the Slane Nursery Handicap and the support proved to be well-founded.
Michael Grassick’s filly raced in rear and began to make headway two furlongs out. She burst through to lead in the final furlong, but was strongly pressed in the closing stages by Zambales.
Slim margin
The pair were locked together close home, however, Gazelle D’or found just that bit more to win by a short head on the line for owners Aidan Gleeson and Grassick.
Jockey Jack Cleary said: “She travelled lovely the whole way and, just when she got there, she just idled a small bit underneath me.
“I wasn’t 100 per cent sure (if she was up) - 50/50 kind of!”
Calzaghi came from a long way back to capture Division 1 of the Yellow Furze Handicap.
A step up in trip to an extended 10-furlongs worked the oracle as Robbie Colgan drove him home by two and a quarter lengths for Mrs Eileen Coleman.
The jockey said: “I didn’t know much about him. I saw him running the last day, and he ran really well and finished it off good.
“He was a little slow away again, but finished out really well. Kevin (Coleman, trainer) is brilliant, he said he hoped he would have a chance.”
THE Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap over an extended mile looked a competitive affair on paper and just over a length separated the first five horses home.
It was Golden Ocean (2/1) who swept through between horses for Seamie Heffernan to get up by half a length in the final strides, in the colours of J Kirkland and Mrs J.M. Ryan.
Michael O’Callaghan said: “She’s gorgeous. Jim Ryan bought her as a yearling and she’s an absolute oil painting. She’s a beautiful, old-fashioned looking filly and she’s bred to look that way. She’s out of a three-time Group 1 winner (Golden Lilac).
“She went home then to Jim’s farm for a couple of months and she freshened up lovely and she strengthened up. She grew up and she came back to me in beautiful shape before she won the last day.”
Rosato (4/1 joint-favourite) grabbed her first victory in the Book Your Discounted Tickets On Navanracecourse.ie Apprentice Handicap.
Darragh O’Sullivan conjured up a rattling finish from her, as she surged in to get up close home by half a length for owner Mrs John M Weld.
Trainer Charles Weld said: “Darragh was class on her, he was very clued in. I rang him last night and he knew all about her. I didn’t know much about him, he was recommended to me. He’s top-class now.”
Hugh Horgan, rider of third-placed Superior Council, was handed a 14-day ban for several whip offences.
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