LEOPARDSTOWN’S pre-Galway card generally features small fields, compensated for by the presence of some classy juveniles, and so it was again in this year’s edition where odds-on favourite Alpha followed up a wide-margin Curragh maiden success in the Saudi Cup Silver Flash Stakes over seven furlongs.

This time, however, the 1/6 chance, owned by Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd along with the Coolmore partners, was far from impressive in the Group 3 contest in which she jumped awkwardly from stalls and was free in the early stages under Ryan Moore. In the straight, she reeled in pace-setting stablemate Nevermindtherain before edging left in the closing stages and clinging on to record a head victory over fast-finishing Dancing Destiny.

The superbly-bred daughter of Sea The Stars, out of four-time Group 1 winner Alpha Centauri, saw her odds lengthen for next year’s classics.

“She was a little bit slow away. Ryan said he just gave her a little root to wake up, and then she came on the bridle and was doing a little bit too much,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien.

“Then Wayne [Lordan, on Nevermindtherain] got away and it was just a mess really. She got a little bit tired, too, and I thought she did well to win.

“She’s a big, powerful filly and we are training her with the races as work, rather than races, if you know what I mean. If they are not really wound up and it goes wrong at the start, it can be difficult. The plan will be to go for the Debutante at the Curragh.”

Futurity calling for Florida

In general, it was a night for front-runners as the configuration of the track, laid out just 15 yards from the innermost racing line, meant it was riding sharp with an emphasis on cornering well. Several winners kicked from the front off the home bend and soon had their races won, with Florida Bay’s 7/2 success in the Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes being a case in point.

Owned by the Coolmore partners and ridden by Wayne Lordan, the Mehmas colt relegated his shorter-priced stablemate Aix La Chapelle to third (placed fourth after causing interference) as he landed the seven-furlong Group 3 by a length and a quarter from market leader Folsom Blues.

“Wayne gave him a good ride, let him bowl along and he won nicely,” said Aidan O’Brien after completing his Pattern race double.

“The last day at Naas, they got ganged up and went too hard. He’s not slow - even a mile could be far enough for him. He could be a horse for the Futurity.”

POSITIVE tactics were rewarded in both juvenile maidens, with Green Dreamer (5/1) soon in front after missing the kick slightly in the Frank Conroy Irish EBF Maiden, over a mile, and keeping up the gallop under Dylan Browne McMonagle to hold 4/9 favourite Shakespere by two lengths.

“He had a nice debut run at Killarney and we thought he’d improved,” said winning trainer Joseph O’Brien. “The second horse looked green and our horse was very genuine and straight. He’s a nice horse for the ‘double green’ team [Simon Munir and Isaac Souede] and was well bought by Anthony Bromley again.

“He’ll probably step into one of those mile stakes races now.”

Naval Crown success

Trained by Jim Bolger for his wife Jackie, Sea Of Rain (9/4 favourite) made all under Declan McDonogh in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden over seven furlongs, scoring by three and a quarter lengths from Citrus Springs.

The daughter of Naval Crown had been placed on her previous three starts and travelling head lad Ger Flynn said “She deserved that. She’s a genuine honest filly. She’s an Oaks filly for next year.”

DARK Viper (9/1) recorded his third win at the track when making most in the Dublin To Bahrain Race Series Handicap, over one mile and a furlong.

Shane Foley was able to ease down close home on Dan Kiely’s grey, who had two and a quarter lengths to spare over Manton Bay.

“He loves Leopardstown and all his wins have been here. He sort of comes around that bend on two wheels and says ‘my stable is there, my horsebox is there’. I don’t think I’ll run him anywhere else!,” said trainer Jessica Harrington.

Harrington and Foley quickly doubled up in the Dubai Racing Carnival Rated Race, over one mile, five furlongs, when Wyman (11/4) outstayed three rivals to follow up a maiden win at the Curragh.

The Australia colt, owned by Hampstead Holdings LLC, was pushed along half a mile from home, but found plenty off the bridle to head Keepsgettingbetter over a furlong out before drawing clear to score by three and three quarter lengths.

“He’s very lazy but is only learning to race now,” said Harrington. The further he goes, the better he’ll be. We’ll go from here to a listed race, probably here.”

Tatum comes up trumps

Like Dark Viper, Noel Meade’s Tatum (2/1 favourite) has a liking for Leopardstown and recorded a third course win of her own in the Turkish Jockey Club Handicap, over one mile, seven furlongs.

The Peerless Partnership’s five-year-old headed longtime leader Miss Gitana a furlong out and won by a length and a quarter from the staying-on Friary Road.

“I thought being a pound well in and with the 5lb claim [of Paddy Harnett], she should nearly win. She may go to Galway, maybe on the Friday,” said Meade.