NORWALK Havoc spearheaded a double for Jessica Harrington at Gowran on Tuesday when making it two from two for the season.

The Showcasing gelding had won a Leopardstown maiden 13 days previously and went to post 5/2 joint-favourite in his bid for a follow up in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race.

Shane Foley, in the Flaxman Stables colours, produced his mount to lead passing the two pole and he stayed on well in the closing stages to score by two and a half lengths from Shelaka.

“Shane said he hated the tacky ground. He doesn’t do a stroke, he was looking at everything but he’ll get there. That was only his third run and I’m delighted with him,” said Harrington.

“We’ll take little baby steps with him. He said he thinks he’ll be better in a better race when he gets taken along.”

Camelot Alexander completed the brace for the pair when claiming the nine-furlong Gowran Park Handicap.

The 9/2 shot led over a furlong out to post a cosy two-and-three-quarter length win for owner Noel O’Callaghan.

“That was a lovely start back, she strengthened up an awful lot from last year,” said Harrington.

“She’s just a different filly. She was very tense last year but she’s relaxed this year and she did it very nicely. She’ll stay further.”

JOSEPH O’Brien had a mixed afternoon with three beaten favourites in maidens but Mataariki impressed when making a winning bow in the mile fillies’ event.

The Cracksman filly was produced to lead over a furlong from home by Dylan Browne McMonagle and soon asserted to post a comprehensive three-and-three-quarter length win for owner Eric Long.

“I’m very happy with her. She didn’t really show any signs of greenness, she travelled well throughout the race and quickened up well. She’s a smart filly,” said O’Brien.

“I thought she’d run well and we thought she’d handle the ground, Dylan was quite impressed with her as was I.

“I wouldn’t be against looking at the Victor McCalmont Stakes back here (May 8th) although it’s maybe coming up a bit soon.

“She probably has to go into a stakes race, there is also the fillies’ 10 furlongs race in Naas (Blue Wind Stakes, May 11th). We’ll see how she pulls up and make a plan from there.”

Winning start

In the opening median auction maiden over seven furlongs Buttermere Ridge also made a winning start for Willie McCreery.

The Profitable gelding drifted wide in the straight but asserted over a furlong out to record a two-and-a-quarter length win under Billy Lee at odds of 15/2.

“He’s a big horse. Dave Hyland bred him and Caren Walsh is involved, she lost her husband a few months ago so it’s a great tonic for her,” said McCreery.

“David L’Estrange chose to go and see his horse in Tipperary today! I’m delighted for the three of them because he’s taken a lot of time to come to hand, they’ve been very patient.

“I was giving him a run to see how he got on because he needed to get out. It’s great to get him started and we might look for a winners’ race somewhere.”

Lee went on to double up on a more experienced performer in Annexation in the nine-furlong handicap.

Support

The Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding attracted some support from 20/1 into 13/2 and bounced back to form, leading inside the final furlong to beat Duke Of Leggagh by a length and a half.

“I’m delighted for the lads (South Rose Racing Syndicate) as he lost his form last year and we were all starting to lose heart,” said the winning trainer.

“It’s amazing with these old guys, we just kept him sweet and I thought he looked amazing walking around the ring.

“We’ve had a few winners today (double in Limerick) and it’s funny how it goes like that.”

Murtagh eyes stakes race next with Wink

JOHNNY Murtagh is looking forward to the season ahead with Cheeky Wink after she made a winning return in the Irish EBF Spring Series Median Auction Maiden.

Ben Coen led over a furlong out on the Masar filly and she proved half a length too strong for Total Look in the nine-furlong contest.

Murtagh, who trains the 7/1 winner for Barnane Stud, said: “She’s always been a very nice filly and had a good run (when fifth at Leopardstown) last year. She’s big and she came back in good shape.

“Shane Kelly rides her at home and he’s been raving about her for the last couple of weeks.

“I think she’s probably a mile or nine-furlong filly. We’ll speak to everyone at home and see but she could be a stakes filly.”

Open account

Another to step forward and open her account was Jim Bolger’s Johanna Whitty in the concluding mile-and-a-half maiden.

Declan McDonogh made the running on the Teofilo filly, who is in-bred 2 x 2 to Galileo, and she rallied well when headed in the straight, getting back on top in the latter stages to beat Neptunes Staircase by three-quarters of a length.

“She needed to grow into herself. She had a blow out at the Curragh (over a mile) and stayed at it well today,” said Bolger of the 11/2 winner.