THE card on day five of the Galway Festival was sponsored by Guinness and, in front of a bumper crowd, the featured €110,000 Guinness Handicap over a mile and a half was won by the 3/1 favourite Thread Of Gold. One of five market leaders to oblige on the evening, the Ghaiyyath gelding followed up his win in Leopardstown’s Nasrullah Handicap when quickening well for Billy Lee to beat Immutable by a length and three-quarters.

Remarkably, the three-year-old, owned by Team Valor International LLC and Gary Barber, was the first of his age to win this race since the Johnny Murtagh-ridden Taraza in 2001.

“Every time I worked him at home last year, he worked better every day,” said winning trainer Willie Mullins. “He is just improving with racing. Billy said he had so much horse underneath him, he was just waiting for an opening. He’ll be out of handicaps now, so we’ll look at listed or group races.”

Joey Sheridan, who partnered fourth-placed Kingstonian, picked up a four-day ban for careless riding.

Not for catching

Lee was completing a double after making virtually all on Joga Bonito (11/4) in the James’s Gate Irish EBF Median Auction Maiden over seven furlongs.

The son of Territories, owned by Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy, was ridden clear a furlong out to beat Otherworldly by a decisive three and a half lengths.

“He had good form, and around here you need experience,” said winning trainer Paddy Twomey.

“He wasn’t a well-behaved colt, and I’d say that gelding him has brought about improvement.

“I think he’s a horse that can continue to progress.”

Like mother, like son

Willie Mullins also notched a brace which was initiated by Vicar Street (13/8 favourite) in the beginners’ chase over two miles and six furlongs.

The Galileo gelding, whose dam Vroum Vroum Mag was unbeaten in six starts over fences, went on in the straight to beat stablemate Ocastle Des Mottes by five and a half lengths. The seven-year-old is owned by J.P. McManus and Sue Magnier, and the former’s racing manager Frank Berry commented: “He liked the ground and got the trip well.

“He’ll tip away in novices up until the autumn, and we’ll see how he’ll get on,” he added.

KINGS Hill (5/1 favourite) was a popular and well-supported winner of the Galway Blazers Handicap Chase over two miles and six furlongs in the hands of J.J. Slevin.

The first-time blinkered grey, owned by the PNT Partnership, led travelling well on the run to the final two fences in the dip and stayed on strongly to beat A Penny A Hundred by three and three-quarter lengths.

“This race has been good to us, it’s the third time we have won it,” said Athenry-based trainer Paul Gilligan.

“We hunted with the Blazers as we grew up, and my kids did as well. They are all involved at home, and it’s a credit to them really.

“I would say we’ll work back from the Galway Plate next year.”

Support justified

Up in trip and down in grade after finishing third on the opening night, Vantage Code (15/8 favourite) demolished his rivals in the Hophouse 13 Handicap over a mile and six furlongs.

The Ghaiyyath gelding, owned by Pearse and Annette Mee, shot clear two furlongs out under Ben Coen to win by 12 lengths from Espritroyale.

Robert Whearty was unscathed after being unseated from Coulstys Way when that one clipped heels approaching the straight.

“He just got a bit fractious when we were saddling him on Monday evening, so we tried the hood tonight,” said winning trainer Emmet Mullins.

“He was very relaxed in the first half of the race and was able to conserve energy. The race was over in the dip.”

THE fillies’ maiden over a mile and a half produced a tremendous finish as Stellar Moment (5/1) just edged out Porters Corner by the minimum margin of victory.

Ronan Whelan’s mount, trained by John O’Donoghue for breeder Christopher McHale, edged ahead inside the final furlong and held the rallying Porters Corner by a nose.

“She travelled around there with a bit of class,” said the winning rider. “When she gets there she only just does enough, so hopefully there’s a bit more to come.”

Galway horse

Terence Bellew McManus was another owner/breeder to enjoy a memorable win as Jp’s Express (10/3 favourite) got off the mark in the three-year-old handicap over a mile.

A fast-finishing third at Fairyhouse on his previous start, the Soldier’s Call gelding led close home under Wesley Joyce to beat Casamorati by a neck.

“I told the owner two months ago that I thought he was a Galway horse,” said winning trainer Mick Mulvany.

“We put cheekpieces on him today, just to liven him up. There is a big, long hill up there, and you need to be able to stay and have the heart for it.”

Real deal

The conditions race over a mile and six furlongs was a thriller as Counting Coup (11/1) narrowly denied Taipan a third successive victory in the race.

The Leigh Roche-ridden winner hit the front early in the straight, but front-runner Taipan rallied gamely and there was just a nose in it at the line.

“It’s only his fourth run. Jumping will be his game, but we’ll try and steal a big pot on the flat before that,” said trainer Maurice Ahern, who owns the six-year-old with John O’Shaughnessy. I entered him in a Group 3 in the Curragh on August 22nd but it could be a bit too hot. He’s a proper horse, the real deal.”