GREEN Carrera (4/1f) held off the fast-finishing Punica Granatum to land the BYD At Finlay Motor Group Spring Fillies Handicap; the most valuable of three handicaps on Sunday’s card at €50,000.

Runner-up on her handicap and seasonal debut earlier this month, the Joseph O’Brien-trained filly broke from a wide draw and raced towards the back of the field for much of the mile contest.

Quickening from the three-furlong pole, the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned bay ran on strongly to lead a furlong out and kept on well under Dylan Browne McMonagle to deny Jessica Harrington’s filly by a short-head.

“The race didn’t set up great for her; Dylan said he was going to Plan B, C and D through the race, but I thought she came good. The second was close, but I think they’re two nice fillies going forward.

“I was very impressed with her from the three to the final-furlong marker. The obvious race now is the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot; straight mile, fillies’ handicap - she’s the type who could potentially run well in that.”

Not for catching

Pretty Omagh Girl had shown promise as a three-year-old, including when finishing fourth on debut over course and distance of a mile, and took a significant step forward on her seasonal return to take the Velo Coffee Handicap by four and a quarter lengths.

Ben Coen made all aboard Andy Oliver’s 11/1 shot and held a clear advantage from two furlongs out. Ridden out, the Brian Mellon and P McBride-owned chesnut ran on well while the favourite Summer Island held off No More Porter for third.

“It’s lovely ground, it’s a great place to get them started for the year - that was our thinking,” the winning trainer relayed, adding that he was not expecting such a taking performance.

“She was obviously in better shape than we thought. We won’t get carried away; we’ll just step her up nicely. We’ll see what the handicapper does. We hope she progresses, but that’s not all in our hands now.”

Typical Tony

Tony Martin was the 11th and final trainer to win on Irish Guineas weekend when Westminster Moon landed a gamble in the Cavalor Equine Nutrition Handicap over a mile and six furlongs.

The Sea The Moon gelding was bought for €260,000 in November 2024 following multiple placings at group level for Andreas Wohler, including third in the Group 1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis. Gelded after his first run for new connections, the now six-year-old had been largely disappointing until finishing mid-division at the track a month ago.

Backed from 25/1 into 17/2 on Sunday, the John Breslin-owned bay was rousted along by Seamie Heffernan to race more prominently than he had on his other Irish starts. Asked for extra in the straight, Westminster Moon edged in front a furlong out and kept on well to score by a length and a half.

“It worked out grand; we were a long time waiting, with a few hiccups along the road,” Martin commented. “Fair play to John [Breslin], he’s a patient man. The boys had a few quid on him, so it worked out well.”