JOCKEY Billy Lee returned from an eight-week injury layoff to record a double for Paddy Twomey with his first two rides back at Galway on Tuesday.

The pair landed the featured Listed Ardilaun Hotel Irish EBF Oyster Stakes with the Moyglare Stud-owned La Isla Mujeres (9/4 favourite), which raced prominently throughout and scored easily by three and a half lengths from Bonnie Moon.

Twomey reported: “We have waited all year with [her] for this ground, and we’ve had to wait. She had a good run in Down Royal and soft ground is the key to her.

“I think she is good enough for the (Group 1) Prix Royal-Oak on Arc weekend and she is five-turning-six, so they might want to breed from her. She is also in the Cesarewitch, but I’d imagine they’d like to win a group race and the Longchamp race might be the right one for her.”

Back with a bang

Lee had earlier returned on Twomey’s Iowa City (18/1), which arrived late to win the Donnellys Of Barna Rated Race. The Ballylinch Stud-owned filly made headway racing wide around the final bend to eventually catch leader Genuine Article in the closing strides.

Lee later said: “It was a great way to come back. I have a lot of people to thank, like the people in RACE who got me back in good strength, and to Paddy Kenny, who got me operated on so quick, which made a big difference to getting back so soon.”

Twomey added: “I’m not surprised she won, but was surprised in the manner she did it, as what she did is hard to do in Galway. I think she’s not too bad and will go back into stakes company now.”

ATOP this year’s championship is Dylan Browne McMonagle and the rider stretched his lead over Colin Keane to seven (75-68), with success in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden on the Joseph O’Brien-trained newcomer Zous And Me (5/1).

The Go Racing Limited-owned daughter of Zoustar raced behind the leaders and made late headway between horses in the home straight to score by a half-length from Sanctijude.

O’Brien’s representative Michael Halford reported: “It was a great effort and she showed a lot of courage. It was a great ride from Dylan and it opened up lovely when some of them ran off the bend turning into the straight. She showed a lot of guts to stick at it well.

“She quickened up well, stuck her head out and tried hard. It is hard to win first-time here, without a run, and it was a very promising start.”

Hot form

Dermot Weld continued his good recent spell in the concluding Sean Cleary Memorial Fillies Maiden, with success from the Chris Hayes-partnered, late Aga Khan-owned and bred Sharanga (5/4 favourite).

Hayes steered the three-year-old daughter of Zarak to an easy three-and-a-quarter-length win over Dream On Baby.

Weld reported: “She did it nicely, as I thought she would. She is a small filly, was a late foal and took time to develop, but there are good goods in small parcels!

“She is tough as teak, we’ll see how she comes out of this and see how she progresses. She could be a lovely filly for the future, but her next race will decide plans.”

In his “retirement era”

Veteran nine-year-old On A Session (7/1) gained a belated first course success in the Galway Handicap, with successful jockey Nicola Burns steering a winner on her first ride for trainer Kieran Cotter.

Carrying the colours of Thomas McGrath, On A Session raced behind the leaders and, while going clear inside the final furlong, survived a slipped saddle in the closing stages.

Cotter explained: “If ever a horse deserved to win a race at Galway, it was him as he had finished second in three Ahonooras (handicaps) and was unlucky in this year’s festival, as if he had got the gaps he’d probably have won.

“Everything went perfectly today, but the only scare we had was his saddle slipped backwards. Everything was okay though, and Nicola said he was travelling so well the whole way.

“The horse had won for me in Down Royal in May and his owners sent him to Ireland this year, as they are based here and like to see him run here.

“He is in his retirement era but, when you see him do that, you’d wonder why and he could go to Listowel now. He has won over €200,000 and is a joy to have around the place.”

RACING began with the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, with champion trainer Aidan O’Brien landing the race for the 19th time with Piazza San Marco (6/5 favourite), for the Coolmore partners and jockey Ronan Whelan.

Whelan made all on the colt and, afterwards, O’Brien’s assistant Chris Armstrong said: “He had been showing well above average ability at home. Time has done him the world of good and he has really strengthened, but what he does this year will be a bonus.

“You’ll see the best of him next year over middle distances and he is a fine, big, strong horse. This horse will have no problem stepping up to stakes company, hopefully this year.”

Big price

Biggest-priced winner was 40/1 chance Electric Beauty in the James P. Cunningham Electrical Handicap, scoring for the Clearys Syndicate, trainer Mick Mulvany and jockey Wesley Joyce.

The daughter of Mastercraftsman had been well-beaten on a previous start over a mile and a half at Tramore, but reverted to an extended mile today, when racing prominently and eventually scoring by three lengths from Rizal.

Mulvany reported: “She is a big filly, we’re only learning about her and I thought she might stay further, as when she was with Ken Condon, he ran her over further. I think her ideal trip is around nine furlongs.”

Making all

The Eddie and Patrick Harty-trained Rain (7/2 favourite) was the all-out nose winner of the Galway Apprentice Handicap, scoring under jockey Jessica O’Gorman.

The Sea The Moon mare was clear of her rivals passing the furlong pole and, while she was chased down by Steps In The Sand, held on for an all-out success.

Eddie Harty reported: “She is a beautiful filly, is well bred and is a good mover. She was back up in distance, but I don’t think that is an issue as a strong mile-and-a-quarter would suit her.

“There is a mile-and-a-quarter qualified riders’ handicap at the Curragh on September 28th for her, possibly next. The syndicate (Fairholme Racing) are Dublin-based, have been involved in racing for a good while and are very nice people.”