SRETAW could hardly have picked a better time to break a frustrating sequence of second place finishes as she put it all together in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Irish Cambridgeshire to give Meath-based trainer Gavin Cromwell his biggest success to date.

A second winner of this race for Wayne Lordan, the Eamon Waters-owned filly was unplaced on her first two runs this year before embarking on a run of six consecutive runner-up finishes. The five-year-old had paid for her consistency as she lined up off a career high rating of 84 and she was 23lbs higher in the weights than when scoring over this course and distance in October but this was ultimately no barrier to success.

The 11/1 shot was given a patient ride by Lordan who was quite content to bide his time towards the rear before unleashing her with a strong challenge over the last furlong and a half. Sretaw still had plenty to do inside the distance where at least half a dozen of the runners held every chance but her sustained bid carried her to the front with 50 yards to run and she succeeded by half a length. The Topaz Mile winner Vastonea ran a fine race to secure second ahead of the 4/1 favourite Hasanour who drifted markedly left when produced with his bid.

“I’d happily swap all those seconds to win a race like this,” said a delighted Cromwell whose biggest win prior this came in the 2012 Ulster Oaks. “She’s been improving all year but just kept bumping into one. She came here in great form, she was a course and distance winner and she got a great ride from Wayne.”

Carla Bianca’s unfaltering revival continued as she reeled off a stakes race hat-trick in the Xtravision & HMV Supporting Irish Autism Action Dance Design Fillies Stakes. The Moyglare Stud-owned filly was beaten in two maidens at the outset of the season but has done nothing but improve since winning at Navan in June and this nine-furlong event provided her with a first group 3 triumph.

In a race that commemorated the former Moyglare-owned classic winner, Carla Bianca was firmly in contention but was under pressure from Pat Smullen inside the last quarter of a mile as Alive Alive Oh cruised to the front. To her credit, the 5/4 favourite dug deep to lead around 150 yards out and she lasted home well from Pearl Of Africa with Alive Alive Oh third.

“She was slow to get her act together in the spring but has progressed with every run since and that was a nice performance,” commented Weld. “She has lots of pace and I’m pleased with how she saw it out there. The Moyglare ‘Jewels’ Blandford Stakes is a possibility for her now. The faster the ground the better for her.”

Cappella Sansevero is firmly on course for next month’s Middle Park Stakes as he gave Andrea Atzeni his first winner in Ireland in the Group 3 Nestle Supporting Irish Autism Action Round Tower Stakes. Atzeni, who was recently announced as Qatar Racing’s retained jockey for 2015, donned the familiar claret silks for the first time in Ireland on Ger Lyons’ recent Phoenix Stakes third who was gaining a well-deserved first victory at this level.

The 6/4 favourite came between War Envoy and Rapid Applause to make his challenge entering the last furlong. Once he got to the front, Cappella Sansevero pricked his ears and he looked to have plenty to spare in defeating Rapid Applause by three parts of a length. War Envoy was the same distance away in third while the promising Shepherd’s Purse showed up well in fourth having not enjoyed the clearest of runs.

“I told Andrea to drop him in and produce him late as the horse feels he has done enough when he gets there,” remarked Ger Lyons. “Andrea said he’s a lovely horse and that he rides like a three-year-old and will get further. It’s all systems go for the Middle Park now and he’s not ground dependent and he’s the right horse for it.”

GOOD PERFORMANCE

Also in line for a crack at the highest level is Jack Naylor following her gritty victory in the Listed Flame Of Tara EBF Stakes. Jessica Harrington’s charge had to concede weight all round as a result of the 5lbs penalty she picked up for her Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes triumph and once again showed a very willing attitude.

After coming under strong pressure to master the front-running Together Forever, Jack Naylor (2/1) then had to contend with the late challenge of the Galway maiden winner Legatissimo and she found more to prevail by three parts of a length.

“She was good there and had to give them all weight,” reported Mrs Harrington who trains the winner for Gerard Byrne. “The mile suits her well and she’ll stay at this trip rather than dropping back for the Moyglare so I think she will head for the Prix Marcel Boussac.”

Last year’s Goffs Orby Sale top lot Ol’ Man River got his career off to a bright start in the Swapkit Supporting Irish Autism Action EBF Maiden over a mile. The 11/10 favourite was going notably well on the outer from halfway and Joseph O’Brien sent him to the front as the last furlong loomed. From this point on, the son of Montjeu and Finsceal Beo had the race in safe keeping and, despite getting a little tired late on, he prevailed by three parts of a length.

“You’d be delighted with that for a first run. He’s never been away and they went a good gallop in a good, solid race,” reported Aidan O’Brien. “He had to get tired off that gallop and we’ll take our time with him. Looking at him there you’d say that he will have no problem dropping back to seven furlongs.”

The card concluded with a 20/1 surprise in the Newstalk Supporting Irish Autism Action Handicap as Captain Cullen revelled in his first try over six furlongs for three years. Fergal Lynch unleashed the five-year-old with a powerful charge from the rear and Captain Cullen cut down Oor Jock inside the distance en route to a two-length triumph over Hatton Cross.

“He’s so free over a mile that if he doesn’t settle he runs no race at all,” reflected Gerry Keane who trains the winner for Lisa Sheridan. “He loves being ridden that way and every time he’s won he’s come from off the pace. He has plenty of gears.”

Fresh from a successful venture over hurdles, the Willie McCreery-trained Love The Feeling notched up her first flat triumph in the Derek O’Sullivan Memorial Apprentice Handicap. Tom Madden struck for home with over two furlongs to run on the 9/2 favourite and she clung on bravely in the closing stages as Sli Na Fiarana got on terms. The front two were inseparable at the line but the bobbing finish went the way of Love The Feeling who is owned by the trainer’s wife, Amanda.

“She’s been a bit stubborn in terms of learning to race but the win over hurdles has given her a lot of confidence,” reported McCreery. “I probably won’t run her again until the ground really softens up and there is a listed juvenile hurdle early in the winter that I have in mind for her.”

ACTING STEWARDS

N.B. Wachman, T.L. Crawford, C. Corballis, S. McDonogh, P.D. Matthews

HORSES TO FOLLOW

VILMAN (M. Halford): This colt progressed from his debut outing when coming home well to secure third in the maiden won by Ol’ Man River. He was beaten less than two lengths to show that a maiden success will be within reach this year and he should do better still after just two runs.