TRAINER Joseph O’Brien saddled three winners at Fairyhouse on Monday and could look to the Breeders’ Cup meeting with Yaupon De Replay after she finished with a flourish to win the Listed Ballyhane Blenheim Stakes on her racecourse debut.

The filly, by the Uncle Mo stallion Yaupon, cost $150,000 in May and went off a 20/1 chance on her first start, but clearly knew plenty.

Dropped out in rear by Chris Hayes, the winner, owned by Simon Munir, Isaac Souede, Middle Cow and Kevin Blake, picked up impressively down the centre of the track to beat Chicago Call by a neck.

“We liked what we saw at home, but you are never sure starting off in that company, it can be tough,” said O’Brien. “I said to Chris to educate her early and have her finishing off and she showed a big kick late on, you’d have to be very impressed with her.

“She’s an exciting filly for the future. After today you can look at things like the Breeders’ Cup, she’s an American-bred filly and she’s fast. She has a lot of options.”

Love conquers all

The well-named Love Is Blind (8/1) was O’Brien’s first winner of the afternoon in the Kilminfoyle House Stud Fillies Maiden. Owned by Teme Valley, the Make Believe three-year-old had been fourth on both outings as a juvenile but was making a belated return this season.

Wayne Hassett got a great tune from the 8/1 shot in the final furlong as she made up plenty of ground to get up late on and beat Treasure Rose by half a length.

O’Brien said: “We thought she’d come forward for today’s run, and that seven furlongs was on the short side, but they probably went plenty quick and it set up well for her.

“She only has one eye but it doesn’t seem to affect her. She loves a bit of juice in the ground and will be busy now for the rest of the year.”

Miracle three-timer

The Mark Dobbin-owned Miracle Beauty (14/1) was another for O’Brien as she got up late under Joey Sheridan to land the spoils in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Handicap.

The Sioux Nation filly had plenty to do passing the two pole but started to motor inside the final furlong for Sheridan, getting on top in the closing stages for a half-length win over Greatest Drama.

“She was a bit frustrating earlier in the year, but had a summer freshen up and likes a little bit of juice in the ground,” said O’Brien.

“She got a nice ride from Joey, the race set up well for her. We’ll probably have another shot at trying to get some blacktype with her.”

EITHER side of his win aboard Miracle Beauty, Joey Sheridan bookended the card with two more victories to complete a fine treble of his own. Utmost Good Faith (10/3) got up close home to take the opening Winter Festival Tickets On Sale Claiming Race.

Unplaced in two maidens, the hooded Starspangledbanner colt looked held by market leader Idiocracy passing the furlong marker but found more in the closing stages to defeat that rival by half a length.

Trainer Fozzy Stack said of Mrs J Barrett’s winner: “He can be a bit keen at times but he knuckled down well there today. He was reasonably relaxed and hopefully he can kick on from there.”

Hat-trick

Sheridan’s third winner was Ze Do Asfalto (20/1) in the closing six-furlong handicap. Fitted with cheekpieces for the first time, the Ardad gelding raced close to the pace and led entering the final furlong to beat the veteran Only Spoofing by three-parts of a length.

The three-year-old had been claimed by owner James McAuley after winning for Adrian Murray at Dundalk last month.

Trainer Denis Hogan said: “I can’t take any credit as the boys claimed him, James and Stephen (McAuley). He’s a grand hardy three-year-old and takes his racing really well.

“Joey is riding with so much confidence and making all the right decisions. He’s just really grown up as a rider and is the finished article now. It’s great to have the lads back. They help me with the race planning as well, especially with their own. They are always looking ahead.”

VERY consistent since joining Johnny Murtagh from Charlie Hills’ yard last year, Lady Pagasa (11/2) got her head in front for the first time in the Treo Eile Handicap.

Touched off by a short-head on her previous start at Leopardstown, the Dark Angel filly came out on the right side of a photo-finish this time.

Ben Coen produced her to lead well inside the final furlong and she just prevailed over Irish Rumour by a nose.

“I think she deserved it, she’s been second so many times,” said Murtagh. “I’m delighted for the owner Joan Keaney-Dempsey as she has persisted with her. She’s a very well-bred filly, so it means a lot for her to win and that could be it for her now as she’ll go breeding.”

Too good

The Joe Murphy-trained Tahcawin (9/2) proved far too good for her nine rivals in the Fairyhouse.ie Nursery. Held up early, Gary Carroll’s mount made good headway to lead over a furlong out before readily going clear to beat Zarvali by four and a half lengths.

Joe Murphy junior said of Michael Mullane’s Sioux Nation filly: “We were never as disappointed with a horse as we were with her in Roscommon last time.

“We thought she was a very good filly all year, probably one of our best two-year-olds. She got a mark of 70, so this was an obvious target from there and we trained her for this race and thankfully it worked out.”