JOSEPH O’Brien saddled a treble at Gowran Park on Wednesday and all of his winners scored readily on seasonal debut. Sinmara (5/4 favourite) looks a stakes prospect after a facile success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over just short of a mile.

Joey Sheridan’s mount went on a furlong and a half out and stretched clear to beat market rival Rayzera by six lengths. The daughter of Kingman cost £400,000 as a yearling and was third at the Curragh on her sole start at two years old.

“She was very impressive, I thought,” said O’Brien. “There is plenty of stamina in her pedigree but, looking at her today, my initial thought was that you’d stick to a mile for now, but we think she’s a filly that will go beyond that eventually.

“I’m delighted to have a nice winner for Wells Watson. Himself and Andrew Cary (bloodstock agent) have supported me with some nice animals over the last few seasons. Hopefully, this is a filly that could take us to some nice days.”

Blacktype on the cards

Sindria (12/1) was O’Brien’s second winner and was equally impressive in the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap over just short of a mile.

Completing a personal double for Joey Sheridan, the daughter of Kodiac swept down the outside to head Greydreambeliever at the furlong pole, before scooting clear to beat that stablemate by four and a quarter lengths. “She relaxed well, she had been a bit of a hard puller,” said O’Brien of the four-year-old, owned by the Sights On Gold Three Partnership. “You’d hope that she could potentially make it into blacktype races.”

Leading Light

Sent off the 7/2 favourite, Light In The Dark was the final leg of the O’Brien treble in the handicap over just short of one mile, six furlongs. The Camelot mare, owned by J.P. McManus, cruised into the lead on the stands’ side over two furlongs out and just needed to be nudged out by Declan McDonogh to score by a length and a quarter from Zanahiyr.

“She’s probably going to go into a premier handicap of some sort,” reported O’Brien. “She won on quick ground up the north one day and it was unraceable when she won her first bumper, so she’s versatile. I’d say she’ll be going over hurdles sooner rather than later, probably after Punchestown.”

IF one took his Gladness Stakes run at face value, Neolithic was entitled to be a bit shorter than a starting price of 10/11 for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race and those who availed of those odds had few worries from an early stage.

The Sioux Nation colt, trained by Aidan O’Brien for the Coolmore partners, had finished third to Big Gossey in that listed event at the Curragh and here, facing three rivals over seven furlongs, he led early in the straight and was ridden out by Wayne Lordan to beat Greek Mythology by three and a quarter lengths.

“Wayne said he enjoyed that and really hit the line strongly. I think he’ll be even better on better ground. He’ll go to the Tetrarch next and then see how he goes after that,” said Ballydoyle representative Chris Armstrong.

Long lay-off

Having his first start since July, Bobby McGee (7/2) made light of that lay-off to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden over seven furlongs.

Never far from the pace under Adam Caffrey, Anthony O’Gorman’s gelded son of Mayson led two furlongs out and, despite drifting left in the closing stages, posted a cosy three-parts of a length success over Jamestown.

Winning trainer Noel Meade said “He was a cheeky colt and gelding him was a big help. He’d done plenty.

“Even though he’d never ran on soft, he has big feet and he’d worked quite well on it. I don’t think a mile will be a problem for him.”

IN his 41st season as a licensed jockey, Niall McCullagh (56) got off the mark for the season when landing the three-year-old handicap over seven furlongs on Survivor’s Code (12/1).

McCullagh’s mount gradually wore down the front-running Monocle Rocket for a half-length success.

“Fair play to Shane Foley, as he recommended her to Breen (White, owner),” said winning trainer Conor Maxwell.

“We gave her a bit of work in Dundalk before the end of the year and it wasn’t for her, so we put her away and waited for the grass. She loves that soft ground.”

Close finish

The Golf At Gowran Park Claiming Race, for three-year-olds only over just short of a mile, went to the Johnny Murtagh-trained Clonbun (6/1).

Blinkered for the first time, Colm Griffin’s homebred responded well to Ben Coen’s urgings and headed market leader Coincidental Glory inside the final furlong and for a half-length victory.

Winning trainer Johnny Murtagh stated “He was entitled to be very competitive in a race like that. Ben said he saves a little bit for himself, but he responded well in tough going. He’s very sound and genuine.”

Coen picked up a two-day whip ban (excessive frequency) and there were no claims for any of the nine runners.

Punchestown bound

Switching back from hurdles, Matt Connor justified 11/4 favouritism in the handicap over one mile, one and a half furlongs.

The winner of two of his last three starts over flights, Adrian Sheils’ six-year-old came from off the pace under Colin Keane and ran out a length-and-three-quarters winner from Justenzia.

Trainer Philip Dempsey said “I’m delighted to get that. He’s on his way to Punchestown, he’s qualified for the Albert Bartlett Series Final.

“This race fitted in lovely. He’s a box-walker and windsucker, so you have to manage him and get him out of the stable as much as possible.”