AIDAN O’Brien and Wayne Lordan combined for a double with Mint Candy getting the ball rolling in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over a mile.

The daughter of Dubawi, sent off 5/6 favourite, made all and was ridden clear in the straight to account for Joyful Princess by two and a quarter lengths.

The winner races in the blue and white quartered colours of Canadian businessman Joe Poulin, who shares ownership of her with the Coolmore partners.

Lordan said: “She doesn’t show you everything, but she had three lovely runs and it feels like there is plenty in there. I had a good draw and had the experience to go along in front. The step up in trip was no problem and next year she will get further.”

The topically named Autumn Winter justified 4/6 favouritism in the three-year-old handicap over two miles to complete the brace of Ballydoyle-trained winners.

Royal runner

The Galileo colt, owned in partnership by Peter M Brant, Mrs John Magnier and Michael Tabor, had previously finished seventh in Royal Ascot’s King George V Stakes in June and was produced to lead inside the final furlong to beat Dark Oak by a length and a half.

Lordan reported: “He was coming back from a break and was a little raw on this track, so there is plenty of improvement in him. He will make a fine stayer and is going to climb the ranks.”

Lordan went in search of a treble aboard odds-on favourite Double Agent, who set out to make all the running in the two-mile maiden, but proved no match for Soul Of Spain (2/1).

The latter stalked in second before taking over in front two furlongs out and quickly went clear under Dylan Browne McMonagle to beat Sanctity Of Space by three and a quarter lengths as the market leader faded into third.

It was a one-two for Joseph O’Brien, who trains the winner for Go Racing Limited. Stable representative Shane Crosse said: “He hasn’t really run a bad race to date, but I think the blinkers helped him out today, as he looks a bit lazy. Dylan said he took a bit of coaxing, but was straightforward and stretched out well.”

JARETH (16/5) continued the fine late-season form of Curragh trainer John O’Donoghue, when proving far too good for his 13 rivals in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden.

Stepping up in trip after showing promise on debut at Sligo, the Make Believe gelding was in the front rank from the outset along with Georg Zhukov and was ridden clear over a furlong out to beat that rival by an emphatic six and a half lengths.

O’Donoghue said of Dr Marcella Burns’ juvenile: “We always thought there was a maiden in him and just wanted to pick our spot. We’ll look at a pattern race before the season ends and could head to the UK.”

He added: “Thank God we are finally rolling, as it had been a very frustrating year. They all just needed time, although we are capitalising on it now.

“Having a good run now is huge, as we are very owner/breeder orientated and, while we aren’t in Book 1 (at Tattersalls Yearling Sales), we’ll look around in Book 2 over the coming days.”

Decade

Skontonovski (8/1) notched his 10th career victory when landing the Moyne Handicap in tremendous style under Adam Caffrey.

Caffrey sent the seven-year-old to the front early in the straight and he stretched five and a half lengths clear of market leader Warazam.

Trainer Ado McGuinness said: “His owner Jimmy Fairhurst wrote to Gary O’Gorman (handicapper) about the horse last week, but he loves fast ground and around here you have to be near the front.

“When he gets down to his mark, he wins his races. He is in at Roscommon on Monday and I’d say he’ll have to run as Gary won’t be too easy on him.

“I’m running out of ammunition for Adam. We’re not a huge big yard and he hasn’t ridden many maiden winners, as I don’t have horses of that calibre. Most of his winners this season have come in handicaps, which isn’t an easy thing to do.

“He rode out with me while still in school and is with me three years now. He initially went 30-odd rides before getting his first winner, but has repaid me and works hard at his weight.”

ONE of Caffrey’s apprentice title rivals was also on the scoresheet in the mile and a half handicap, as Wayne Hassett steered home Londonofficecallin (5/6 favourite) to score for his new trainer Gavin Cromwell.

The winner of five of his previous eight starts for Eric McNamara, the dual-purpose seven-year-old hit the front close home to score by half a length from Tastyee in the colours of the In Bounds Syndicate. Hassett commented: “He definitely wants more of an ease in the ground to help him, but when I wanted him, he was there.”

Cromwell doubled up when Empress Alma (5/1) made it three wins from her last four starts by claiming the two-mile 47-70 handicap under Gary Carroll.

In front over a furlong out, the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor just held the late thrust of slow starter Sir Allen by a neck. The three-year-old is owned in partnership by Eoin Hughes, Carmel Yore, Darren Cahill and Kiva Cromwell.

Carroll said: “I got there sooner than I would have liked and might have waited a little bit longer, but she stays well. Hopefully the handicapper isn’t too hard on her and she can go in again.”