DERMOT Weld and Chris Hayes teamed up for a double, highlighted by the feature race win of Deressa in the @Gowranpark1 On Twitter Fillies’ Race.

The Aga Khan home-bred daughter of Zarak was sent off at 7/2 to follow up a maiden win over the same extended nine furlongs last month and made headway to challenge over a furlong out. She was just pushed out by Hayes to beat Gotomylovely by a length and a quarter with 2/1 favourite Lemsairbat in third.

“She’s a course and distance winner and she backed it up today. It was a good ride from Chris Hayes who is riding with a lot of confidence,” said Weld. “I’ve no definite plans at the moment, but obviously you’d love to get a bit of blacktype with her later in the year.”

Pierre Royal, second on debut here a fortnight earlier, initiated the double when justifying odds of 4/9 with the minimum of fuss in the INPBA Sponsored Gate June 2nd Maiden.

The Moyglare Stud Farm home-bred son of Kingman made all and asserted from over a furlong out to beat Bishopton by three and three-quarter lengths.

“He ran well here the last day and reproduced that again today. That’s all he needed to do. The one draw was helpful and the ground is beautiful. He did what we hoped he’d do,” said the master of Rosewell House.

Iconic duo

Paddy Twomey and Billy Lee followed up a treble at Cork the previous evening when Inventress landed odds of 8/11 in the Gowran Park Median Auction Fillies’ Maiden. The Diana Vasicek home-bred daughter of Mastercraftsman made all and took control from over a furlong out to beat Its All Peachy by a length. Jamie Powell picked up a two-day careless riding ban on the runner-up.

“She had a lovely debut in Cork on ground that I’d say was just quick enough for her.

“We felt the way she travelled that day that she’d be able for the drop back in trip but not necessarily need,” said Twomey.

He added: “We have an eye on the 200,000 euro classic here on June 2nd and I was keen that she won her maiden beforehand if possible.

“The extended nine and a half furlongs will be no problem for her and, I think on soft ground, she’s a blacktype filly.”

PRINCE Of Eyeries added to a Dundalk maiden win earlier this year when again prominent throughout to land the Golf At Gowran Park Optional Claiming Race.

The well-backed 4/1 chance was smartly away from stall one under Luke McAteer and, after being joined early in the straight, kept on strongly for pressure inside the final furlong to beat Pinball Wizard by two and a quarter lengths.

The runner-up was claimed for €6,000 to be trained by John McConnell, while Akeela (fourth) joins Ian Donoghue for the same price.

“He loves whipping around a bend and we’d a lovely draw today, so I said to Luke to make plenty of use of him. When he got stuck into him, he really put his head down and finished out well,” said James Barrett, who trains the winner for the Roving Swan Partnership.

Winning return

Omakase returned from a lengthy spell in the paddocks last autumn and the return to racing reaped benefit as she opened her account in the Gowran Handicap over an extended two miles.

The well-supported 7/1 shot kept on strongly inside the final furlong under Jessica O’Gorman to beat Bynx by a comfortable two lengths.

“She has a two-year-old in training with Joseph O’Brien by Decorated Knight,” revealed Paul Fahey, who trains the mare for the Bobby’s Dream Syndicate. “The plan is to go jumping with her. She has schooled over hurdles and will be a nice dual-purpose mare for the summer.”

THERE was a tremendous finish to the Robert Grace Live After Racing June 2nd Handicap where Inchiquin Star just got the better of a final furlong duel with Sioux Eagle by a nose.

The 7/1 chance, trained by Paul Kiely for Sean Harnedy, was gaining her first win on the flat to add to three previous victories over hurdles. Champion jockey Colin Keane was at his best on the mare and said afterwards: “She was very straightforward and, when we needed her, she was good and game. They thought she would appreciate going up in trip and the cheekpieces back on helped her a bit as well.”

Saxon rules

Saxon Kingdom (7/1) opened his account at the 24th attempt when reversing recent Killarney places with Harry The Rogue in the Membership At Gowran Park Golf Club Handicap.

The four-year-old gelding, trained by Tom Dowling and racing in the colours of Philip Rothwell, nearly threw away his advantage when drifting left inside the final 150 yards, but held off the topweight by a neck.

Winning rider Gavin Ryan said: “He’s probably idled a touch and is a bit of a monkey. We were 9lb better off today (with the runner-up), which was a big help and the last day I had to sit a little bit long following him through and didn’t have the gears to get him back. Today has worked out a little bit more in our favour.”