SHE might have become a little frustrating to follow through the height of the summer but So Wonderful is firmly back on track and Aidan O’Brien’s classic-placed charge picked up a precious black type triumph in the Listed M.D. O’Shea Vincent O’Brien Ruby Stakes.

After meeting with defeat in a couple of maidens, the Irish 1000 Guineas third won at the Curragh earlier this month and, under a ride of some mastery from Seamie Heffernan, she progressed to take this prize on less than ideal heavy ground. Heffernan was at pains to wait as long as he could before asking her to challenge and it was only inside the distance that he asked her for everything. When it mattered So Wonderful (11/2) was not found wanting and she led on the line to defeat the long absent Up Helly Aa, who ran so well, by a nose with Helvic Dream the same distance back in third.

“She’s a very talented filly and easy to like but sometimes she hasn’t done what we’ve expected but she’s classic placed and now she’s a stakes winner,” reflected the winning rider.

Earlier the O’Brien-trained San Martino (3/1) stepped up appreciably on the form of his first two outings to dominate the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden over a mile. A third Irish winner from the first crop of The Gurkha, this colt is out of the soft ground loving Euphrasia and the testing conditions held no fears for Wayne Lordan’s mount. After racing on the pace he was in full control of this race for much of the straight and he went on to defeat the newcomer Dolce Notte by five lengths.

“He had a nice first run but he didn’t break well from an inside draw in Leopardstown the last day and was just too far back. He travelled well on the ground and he will have no problem stepping up in trip next year,” reported the rider.

The card concluded with a smart display from the talented Wonder Laish (6/4) in the Broderick Plumbing & Heating Q.R. Race. Philip Byrnes made the running on this eight-year-old, who is trained by his father Charles, and the pair looked very comfortable at all stages. From two furlongs out the Martin White-owned gelding had the odds-on Mt Leinster struggling and he went on to defeat that rival by two lengths. This was a fifth winner for the successful rider.

“He was rated 92 and he was the best horse in the race,” declared Byrnes. “He might go to Listowel for the good handicap hurdle but he wouldn’t want the ground any softer than it is today. We fancied him for the Galway Hurdle but he left his hind legs behind him at the first and then got blocked at the second and his chance was gone then.”

Four up for High Altitude

THE August Festival at Killarney brings out the best in John Murphy’s High Altitude (15/2) who notched up his fourth win at this meeting in the Irish Examiner Rated Race where he continued a fine run for apprentice Dylan Browne McMonagle. In the colours of the Paola Hewins and Olivia Hoare Partnership, the six-year-old son of Papal Bull defeated the rallying front-runner Insignia Of Rank by a length and a half.

“He’s a lovely horse and as honest a horse as you will ever have. He loves it around here and he got through the ground, we were worried it might be a bit gluey for him,” commented the trainer’s son George.

Dermot Weld matched John Murphy on the three-winner mark for the meeting when Tiger Mylk (17/2) posted a much improved effort in the mile nursery. This daughter of Dragon Pulse had struggled in three maiden runs but the switch to handicap company and the application of a visor made a big difference to her.

She was travelling much the best for Chris Hayes approaching the last couple of furlongs and soon took charge to finish two lengths ahead of the 33/1 chance Creative Mojo. She might well be able to add to her haul in the coming weeks.

OVER nine years after his last winner on the track, Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer Pat O’Donnell struck with Dragon Of Malta (100/30) in the second division of the 45-65 Diarmuid Cronin Electrical Handicap. Shane Crosse was on board this reliable Anthony Hennessy-owned three-year-old who defeated Fugacious by half a length.

“He’s very consistent and the soft ground is a big help to him. It was a bit of a worry running him back so quickly after Cork on Sunday but he ran well there (fourth to Sasta) in what looked a decent enough race for the grade,” reported the trainer.

Ivy Avenue, in the colours of Jim Bolger’s long standing supporters Patricia and Colm O’Rourke, notched up the first victory of her career in the first divide of the 45-65 rated handicap. In first time cheekpieces this Coolcullen inmate asserted in good style for Kevin Manning deep inside the last furlong to prevail by a length and a half. The 7/1 chance could turn out again in an apprentice handicap at Tipperary on Thursday.

“Kevin said she won well and handled the ground well which was a big help. She’ll go for something similar again,” commented the trainer’s daughter Una.

Father Ailbe (8/1), who was last seen in action over hurdles at Gowran in October, notched up his first flat success in Ireland in the Pitchsupplies.ie Apprentice Handicap. The five-year-old relished every yard of this mile and three quarters event and he defeated Full Moon Magic by two and a half lengths. The winner is owned by his breeder John Browne.