FRESH from his Cheveley Park Stakes triumph the previous afternoon, Shane Foley returned to domestic action with two winners which featured a last-gasp triumph on Johnny Murtagh’s Champers Elysees (5/2) in the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Maiden.

On a day where the complexion of a number of races changed markedly in the last furlong, this Fitzwilliam Racing-owned filly pounced late. Foley deftly switched her out from behind a wall of horses to launch a sustained bid over the last furlong and she got there late to edge out Johan Zoffani by three-parts of a length. The winner will head for the final of the Foran series at Naas in a fortnight’s time.

After seeing the day start with a beaten favourite and Know It All being run out of the Weld Park Stakes, Johnny Murtagh enjoyed a much better end to the card and he made it a double as the Andy Slattery-ridden Borelli (7/1) put this rivals to the sword in the closing stages of the Mongey Communications Nursery over a mile. Another Fitzwilliam Racing-owned winner, this first-time blinkered colt crossed the line with four and a half lengths to spare.

The card began with a 20/1 surprise and another two-year-old winner for Kieran Cotter as the Foley-ridden Kondratiev Wave bagged the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over five furlongs. The Dolmen Racing Club-owned colt, who switched to Cotter’s yard after his debut at Listowel 17 days previously, was one of just two horses that opted to race the far side of the track and these two dominated at all stages.

Over the last furlong, Kondratiev Wave got the better of Gatwick Kitten to score by one and three-quarter lengths, with the near side group a further three and a half lengths away.

Ger Lyons and Colin Keane wasted no time bouncing back from Siskin’s abortive Middle Park Stakes bid the previous afternoon as Pablo Diablo made a winning debut in the Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Irish EBF Maiden over seven furlongs. The favourite, Louisiana, skipped a couple of lengths clear of the field approaching the final furlong but Pablo Diablo collared him inside the last 150 yards to prevail by half a length.

Pablo Diablo and Colin Keane won for owners Kevin (right) and Terry Blessing \ Healy Racing

The Blessingindisguise Partnership-owned son of Zoffany was backed from 8/1 into 11/2 on track.

“It’s a bit of a surprise and it’s down to all the work that’s been done at home, although the Zoffanys that I have all seem to enjoy soft ground,” reported Lyons who indicated that his charge could be finished for the season in light of a lack of opportunities between maiden and stakes level.