IT was a landmark evening in Killarney history with Frankie Dettori making his first appearance at a Kerry track in 21 years, but unquestionably the night belonged to Ger Lyons and Colin Keane who enjoyed a double and treble respectively, with the latter displaying all the brilliance that made him champion jockey in 2017.

The Lyons and Keane double was completed by Viadera in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cairn Rouge Stakes. After winning a Curragh handicap off 100 on Guineas Weekend before journeying to Carlisle to finish third in a listed race, the Khalid Abdullah-owned filly deserved to get her turn at this level and she produced a determined effort to justify 5/2 favouritism.

Just as he did on his first ride of the night, Frankie Dettori excelled from the front on Lady Wannabe and for much of straight it looked as though he might have judged things to perfection. However, there was a certain inevitability about the challenge of Viadera as the last furlong loomed and she forced her way past in the final yards to score by a short-head.

“Her heart got her there. She’s had a tough couple of months but she’s got a big heart. We’re absolutely thrilled with this and yet again they have produced absolutely beautiful ground down here,” said Shane Lyons. “Her attitude will stand to her when she steps up again, but it was very important for her to win her stakes race today.”

Earlier, the Lyons-trained Baby Zeus (12/1) made quite an impression with a winning debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over a mile – a race which famously went to the subsequent Investec Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck last year. For much of the straight it looked as though Aidan O’Brien was set to land another Killarney maiden with the front-running 2/9 favourite Arthur’s Kingdom, but a sustained late charge from Baby Zeus carried him to the front on the line. This Ray Grehan-owned son of Footstepsinthesand is a half-brother to the Royal Ascot heroine Lagostovegas.

“We always liked him but he’s still a very immature horse. In fairness to him, he has taken the four-and-a-half-hour journey down here and the race like a pro. We know he’s got an engine and there’s plenty to look forward to with him,” reported the trainer’s brother, Shane.

Keane’s treble came courtesy of John Murphy’s Sharp Focus (6/1) in the 45-65 rated Grand Hotel Killarney Handicap over a mile. This sparingly campaigned four-year-old coped well with a drop back in trip from a mile and a half to defeat Havana Breeze by three-parts of a length.

This victory paid a compliment to Sharp Focus’s Tipperary conqueror Galeola and also signalled that the winner could easily be adding to his tally over the coming weeks, especially when he moves up in trip.

FRANKIE Dettori was cheered and applauded into the parade ring for his opening ride of the night – as indeed were the other riders when they emerged from the weighroom – and he almost got his visit to Killarney off to a fairytale start.

However, the Tom Madden-ridden Tauran Shaman (8/1) spoilt the party in the Aherns Garage Castleisland Irish EBF Maiden. Dettori got Time Tunnel across from a wide draw to make the running but she succumbed to the last-furlong charge of the Zhang Yuesheng-owned newcomer who was giving Jessica Harrington an across-the-card double.

The son of Shamardal and the classy Danelissima turned in a nice effort to lift this mile prize and he looks yet another horse of potential for his connections.

Tom Madden ended the evening as he had begun it, this time teaming up with the Adrian McGuinness-trained Royal Admiral in the Dorothy Henggeler Memorial Handicap. The Shamrock Thoroughbreds-owned 9/2 chance shot clear of the field inside the last quarter of a mile but needed the line late as he got home by just a head from the oncoming Danehill Quest.

ANOTHER trainer to strike at both Wednesday meetings was Michael Halford whose Defining Battle (11/2) obliged in the Rentokil Initial Handicap over 11 furlongs.

This unexposed son of Lope De Vega was having just his fourth career start after winning a Listowel maiden early last month and turned in a nice display under Conor Hoban to edge out Elite Trooper Grey.

The winning jockey was given a two-day whip ban.

After meeting with defeat in the opener, Aidan and Donnacha O’Brien hit back with Turnberry Isle in the Sauternes Cup Rated Race over a mile.

This Galileo colt had shaped better than his official rating of 89 on a couple of occasions this season and enjoyed a straightforward success after brushing aside the Dettori-ridden Mujid early in the straight.

The 2/1 favourite went on to finish with a comfortable three and three-quarter lengths to spare over Tony The Gent.