EMILY Dickinson (11/8) returned with a decisive victory in the Listed Vintage Crop Stakes to give Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore a double on the card.

The four-year-old mare tracked 5/4 favourite French Claim over this mile and six-furlong trip and made headway to lead over a furlong from home. She drew clear in the final furlong for a five-length success for Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg.

O’Brien said: “She loves a trip and she relaxes, that’s the key. She stays well and she has class as well. She’s an exciting filly, she has a big engine.

“The plan was to come here and then go to Leopardstown for the Saval Beg. Then, hopefully, she will go from there to the Gold Cup.

Newcomer impresses

O’Brien earlier unleashed a highly-promising newcomer in River Tiber in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for two-year-olds.

The 5/6 favourite readily moved clear for Moore - in the Tabor colours but in the ownership of Smith, Magnier, Westerberg and Brant - in the final furlong of this sprint to hit the line 10 lengths clear of the runner-up Zona Verde.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “A lovely introduction, he was very impressive. His homework has been strong at home and it is great that he brought the same to the track. He’s a lovely horse and you love everything about him - athletic, physical and a good mind.

“He’s one that could go to the winners’ race in Naas or maybe something like the Marble Hill at the Curragh, and then hopefully on to Ascot. Something like the Coventry.”

Sioux Nation filly Ocean Quest (10/1) was strong on the uphill finish for Shane Foley as she powered six lengths clear of the opposition in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Committed Stakes, over an extended five furlongs, for John Kirkland and Mrs Jim Ryan.

Assistant trainer Kate Harrington said: “She was going to the Cheveley Park last year and she pulled a muscle the week before, so we put her away for the rest of the season.

“Her owners have been rewarded with waiting with her, I thought she looked a picture in the paddock beforehand.

“She’ll go to the Commonwealth Cup, that’s what mum said on the phone! Obviously, mum will have a chat with the owners and everything, but it looks like the likely aim at the moment.”

Ronan Whelan partnered his first winner for Harrington on Village Voice in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes.

The 7/1 shot came with her challenge inside the final furlong and kept on well to beat 11/10 favourite Jackie Oh by three-quarters of a length for owner Mrs Patrick Cooper. Village Voice’s stablemate, Foniska, could give no more once headed in the final 100 yards and dropped a further two and three-quarter lengths back in third.

Kate Harrington said: “She has been very brave down the inside. I’m just watching the head on and she has been very brave to go through the gap. She has done it really really nicely. I’d imagine we will go to the Ribblesdale now.

“Our other horse, Foniska, has run a cracker but she boiled over a little bit beforehand and will come on a tonne from it. She wants a bit better ground.”

Apprentice handicap

Strong-travelling Tawaazon took the honours in the Kilberry Apprentice Handicap over the extended five furlongs.

The 9/2 favourite led at the half-way stage and increased the pressure on the pursuers at the furlong pole.

He was kept up to his work by Jamie Powell to see off Queen’s Pardon by a reduced margin of three-quarters of a length at the line.

Owner/trainer James McAuley said: “I have to give Kevin O’Ryan (agent) credit, there weren’t many apprentices left by the time that we decided that we were going to declare him.

“He said if I gave Jamie the ride on Tawaazon, he would go here. He was supposed to go to Limerick.”

RICH Belief switched to trainer Shane Crawley in the off-season and made a winning reappearance in the Donaghmore Handicap over a mile and five furlongs.

Seamus Heffernan sent him after Scott Lang and the pair wore down the leader in the final 100 yards to win by half a length at 8/1.

Owner Ivan Keeling said: “Super! A small bit of ability and stays at it. He has won five races for us, we can’t believe it.

“He was a bit unlucky in the north when Billy Lee rode him. He said anything that could have gone wrong did go wrong and he still got up to be third (at Down Royal last September).

“We will probably go jumping hurdles next, he jumps nicely.”

Handled

Just the three runners went to post for the Racing Next On Saturday May 13th Maiden and it was Nurburgring who handled the heavy ground best.

The 2/1 shot passed 8/13 favourite Queenstown at the furlong pole and forged on well to prevail by four and a quarter lengths under Mikey Sheehy for Al Mamoura and Mrs Annemarie O’Brien.

Trainer Joseph O’Brien said: “Settled well, quickened up very well. Nice run at two, but we thought on that ground he might get a bit tired.

“Some of mine have just taken a run this year. I thought he might be no different, but I was impressed with how he went to the line. He will be a lovely middle distance/stayer, hopefully.”