JOSEPH O’Brien continued his fine recent record in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap, landing the €30,000 feature for the fourth time in five years as Mataariki scored in the hands of Dylan Browne McMonagle.

This meeting only went ahead after an early morning inspection, but the heavy ground conditions proved no problem to the daughter of Cracksman who made all and kept on well from over a furlong out to score by a length and a half. Marakesh took the runner-up spot with Bellaphina finishing just a shorthead back in third.

“Seven is probably her trip and she enjoys a bit of juice in the ground,” said O’Brien of the Eric Long-owned 3/1 joint favourite. “This has been a good race to us. It is a good pot and these fillies’ handicaps, particularly through the early part of the season, are so competitive. We’ll try and get a bit of blacktype with her at some stage.”

O’Brien brothers

Joseph’s younger brother Donnacha was also on the mark as Dahlia Noir, sporting the colours of his mother Anne Marie, defied a market drift in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Fillies Maiden. The easy-to-back 3/1 favourite was never too far from the pace and got the better of a final furlong duel with Lady Lilac by half a length.

“She has loads of ability and probably didn’t do a whole lot when she got to the front. She’s in the valuable auction race (Gowran Classic on June 2nd) here which could be something to look at but that’s over nine and a half furlongs and Gavin (Ryan) said it would be better to keep her to a mile,” said O’Brien.

THE Pat Garvey-owned Scott Key was probably the most impressive winner on the card and relished the ground conditions in the Irish Injured Jockeys Handicap.

Trained by Andy Slattery and ridden by his son and namesake, the 100/30 favourite quickened to the front well over a furlong out and soon took control to beat Ribee by an easy four and three quarter lengths.

“I was hoping he’d do that as we’re going for the Premier (Blackwater) Handicap at Naas on Monday and that will get him into the handicap,” said the Killenaule trainer.

“I always thought he’d handle that ground, and he did it well. Hopefully he’ll climb the ladder.”

Strong support

Varshini showed promise in a hot Curragh maiden on her only start last year and justified strong support in the opening Gowran Park Golf Club Maiden.

The 15/8 favourite, available at 5/1 in the morning, was ridden to lead over a furlong out by Seamie Heffernan and kept on well inside the final 150 yards to beat Kilmood Susan by two and a quarter lengths.

“She had a good run last year and had a few little niggly holdups when we were trying to get her to the Million. She scoped wrong and a few things like that.

“She probably does need a dig in the ground and hopefully will come forward from that,” said Fozzy Stack who trains the daughter of Night Of Thunder for Fitri Hay and Linda Shanahan.

“She’s in the Irish 1000 Guineas but that will probably come a bit too quick at this stage.”

DANCE For Chester, trained by Mick Mulvany when making a successful reappearance in a Naas sprint, followed up off an 8lb higher mark for Stephen Thorne in the seven-furlong Dining Packages At Gowran Park Handicap.

The Magpie’s Nest Syndicate-owned 11/10 favourite was quite keen up with the pace under Jack Kearney but kept on well inside the furlong to score by three-quarters of a length from James The Second, ironically trained by Mulvany.

“I rode him work in Skryne and couldn’t believe he won over five,” said Kearney. “He was keen and hanging off the track but once I got him onto the rail he picked up and he kept finding. I’d definitely have no issue going further. He definitely wants that ground and I wouldn’t be running him on any quicker than soft.”

Winning return

Mulvany didn’t have to wait long to gain compensation as Dinamine, owned and bred by Sean Finnegan, opened his account at the 37th attempt in the Thomastown Handicap.

The son of Red Jazz, 16/1 in the morning and sent off an 11/2 shot, kept on well inside the final furlong to just peg back the front-running Serengeti Sunrise by a short head.

Mulvany said: “He’s only after coming back to me a couple of months ago. He was with me as a two-year-old and went away then for a few years. It doesn’t pay to fall out with anybody!”

On Springs

The lightly raced Spring Evening opened his account for owner/breeder William Powell-Harris when making most in the concluding @Gowranpark1 Handicap over an extended mile and five furlongs.

The 9/1 winner asserted early in the straight under Shane Foley and was about four lengths clear a furlong out but held on in the closing stages by half a length from the fast-finishing Elle Dorado Rock.

“He’s always had ability but has had niggles and missed plenty of time. He’s always worked well and maybe having time off helped him as he’s big and backward. He may be a nice dual-purpose horse but doesn’t want any worse than yielding to soft jumping ground,” said Andrew Latta, son and assistant trainer to his mother Yvonne.