PINK Oxalis dismissed a competitive looking field with ease, as she ran out an impressive winner of the feature event at Gowran Park on Wednesday.

Eight lined up in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies’ Handicap, but only one mattered in the closing stages as the Stephen Thorne-trained grey dominated.

The 7/2 joint-favourite was produced to lead under two furlongs out by Jack Kearney and soon settled matters as she went on to post a cosy four-length win over Declaree.

Kearney said afterwards: “That was very impressive. I wasn’t too sure coming here today on the ground but she enjoyed it.

“She won well over a mile the last day in Dundalk and she’s been bouncing at home ever since.

“(Winning) definitely brought her on a ton at home and her work had been very good leading up to this, but I wasn’t expecting that.”

Six-length success

Her winning margin had been bettered a couple of races earlier, by Gotomylovely, in the other fillies’ race on the card, the maiden over the same mile trip.

Fozzy Stack’s charge went to post a 25/1 shot, but made most of the running on her own up the rail as the field stayed wide in the straight.

Joey Sheridan kept his mount up to her work in the closing stages as she posted a six-length success for owners Mrs MV Magnier and Mrs Paul Shanahan.

The Camelot filly had drifted right across the track when pulled up at the Curragh on her last outing and Sheridan explained: “She’s actually quite straightforward.

“The last day wasn’t really to do with her at all, the bit went through her mouth and she didn’t know what to do.

“She’s had three runs so I used her experience, went along in front and she quickened up smartly down the straight.

“I didn’t want to go complicating things on her, so I just turned in and gave her her own space.”

SIMILAR tactics also worked for another mare, Molly Hall, in the concluding one-mile, six-furlong handicap. The Alan McIntyre-trained grey wasn’t for passing as she made all to record a two-and-a-quarter-length success under Robert Whearty.

“She’s a deadly filly. She won twice last year and was placed a load of times, she’s very consistent,” said McIntyre.

“She was off the track over 200 days and I’m delighted she went and did it, she was impressive enough. We might go over hurdles with her at some point. I was worried about the ground today, but it didn’t seem to be a problem. She has the heart of a lion and keeps going.”

Digging deep

Saint Brandon dug deep to gain back-to-back wins in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race.

The Natalia Lupini-trained colt bounced out in front in the seven-furlong conditions event and, having been briefly headed by Mathan under two furlongs out he put his head back in front to claim a three-quarters-of-a-length win.

Wayne Lordan rode the 5/1 winner in the colours of the handler’s partner Craig Bryson and said: “He did it nicely. He jumped and I was able to get to the front and dictate it. He was a little bit on the bridle with me, but found plenty under pressure.

“I don’t think ground is an issue to him, fast or slow and I think that’s a good trip for him.”

ASTON Value edged a good battle in the following median auction maiden over the same seven-furlong trip. The Johnny Murtagh-trained gelding came with a strong surge, under Ben Coen, to lead inside the final furlong and record a head victory over the fast-finishing Senna’s Girl.

Murtagh trains the 5/1 winner for his wife Orla and said: “He had a bad draw (15) and I was a bit worried coming here, and he was a horse that I thought would go on good to firm well.

“We took a chance, Ben said he struggled a bit on the ground, but he did well to win. We’ll see what mark he gets now. I was always hoping that he’d make into a Britannia Handicap type of horse.”

Another Coen

There was another Coen on the scoresheet later when Sam, cousin of the aforementioned Ben, took the nine furlong handicap on Bringsty.

Noel Kelly’s charge was prominent throughout and travelled well to lead two furlongs out before the well-backed 4/1 favourite went on to post a length-and-a-quarter success over Captain Ciano.

Coen said: “It worked out lovely. He always jumps very well, we took a lead today and he travelled strongly into the race. I might have got there too soon but he kicked on again when I got stuck into him. He’s done it well in the end and I had a job pulling him up.”

Tardy start

Weegeebear overcame a tardy start to land the mile claimer on the card for Ado McGuinness and owner Mark Devlin. Adam Caffrey produced the Kodi Bear gelding to lead early in the straight and he kept on well in the closing stages to hold Live Like The Boss by half a length.

Caffrey said of the 7/1 winner: “He jumped slow and I went to plan B straightaway, down the rail. I was able to scoot up their inside turning the bend and got a really nice position. He travelled into the straight really well and quickened up and did what he had to do. He’s hit the line strong.”