BILLY Lee stretched seven clear in the jockeys title race with a double at Naas on Thursday. New Bond Street got him off the mark on the day when justifying her short price in the Goffs Two Million Series Maiden.

Paddy Twomey’s charge led passing the two pole in the five-furlong contest and was soon in control as she posted a two-and-a-half-length win over Alloutoflove.

“She’s a nice filly. I ran her over six-furlongs a few times just to educate her,” said Twomey of the 4/11 winner. “I think with the drop back to five (furlongs) now you are seeing the real filly.

“I’d say that’s as soft as she’d want it. I’d say she’d want better ground. I think she’ll go to Dundalk for the five-furlong listed race (Legacy Stakes) in two weeks time.”

Popular winner

Nouveau Grey was popular in the market for the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden and ran out a cosy winner of the newcomers’ event. Lee produced the Ross O’Sullivan-trained colt to lead inside the final furlong and he went on to post a two-and-a-half-length victory over 11/4 favourite Miss Hong Kong.

The winner was backed from 10/1 into 3/1 and O’Sullivan said afterwards: “He has always been showing us a bit at home. He was a horse that Katie had at the breeze-ups last year but he had a mile-and-a-half pedigree and he didn’t break the clock.

“Katie had him in France but there was no one for him. She said ‘this horse is too good to leave go’. She loved him so much. She called called Amanda (Torrens) and she said ‘Katie, if you recommend him, I’ll take him’.”

SALT Lake (4/11 favourite) confirmed the promise of his debut run with a convincing success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for colts and geldings.

The Amo Racing-owned son of Persian Force made all in the race, over just shy of six furlongs, and powered clear in the closing stages for a three-and-three-quarter-length success from Bengal Tiger, under Donagh O’Connor.

“The form of the maiden he ran in at the Curragh has worked out very well,” said trainer Robson de Aguiar.

“The horse that finished third (Noble Exhibit) won very well at Punchestown and the winner (Monogram) was second in the Group 1.

“We might give him another run or two this season. We’ll see what Kia (Joorabchian) wants to do. He’s a nice horse for the future.”

Brillante aiming for blacktype

In the opening maiden, for fillies, Luca Brillante gained a deserved success for the Dermot Weld.

The Moyglare Stud-owned filly was one of a handful to stay on the far side and the 3/1 favourite skipped clear of her rivals over a furlong from home.

Newcomer Pirate Anne Bonny, who led the stand’s side group, chased her home by a length and three quarters.

“She did that well. I’d say it was a fair contest,” said Weld. “Hopefully we’ll get blacktype with her before the year is out.

“She’s pretty adaptable trip wise. She has a lot of pace. She likes a bit of ease and is a very genuine, kind filly. Lots to look forward to.”

Far side favouritism

The far side also prevailed as they split in the Colm White Nursery, with Santo Parvenue holding the charge of Docks as the pair raced wide apart.

Santo Parvenue, trained by Eddie and Patrick Harty, was well supported on his handicap debut going to post 6/1 having been 18/1 in the morning.

He hit the front over a furlong from home, under Nathan Crosse, to secure a half-length success.

“We had our side won from a furlong out. The blinkers helped focus his mind. The castration whether it helped or not god knows,” said Harty senior.

“I’d say he’ll get another furlong and he might go in again before the season is out. It was nice to get it for Dan Kiely. He’s one of the bigger owners in the yard and he’s put a lot into it.”

IRISH Champions Stakes heroes Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley teamed up for further success with Diamonds And Dames in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden.

The Churchill filly grabbed 2/1 favourite Dawnmore in the final 100 yards to secure a half-length victory, at odds of 4/1.

Foley said of the winning It’s All About The Girls syndicate: “They are an enthusiastic bunch, they get a great kick out of it.

“I thought she’d have done that the last day in Cork but I probably rode her too forward and she didn’t see it out. The stiff seven (furlongs) probably suited her.”

Close finish

The Joseph O’Brien-trained Santerno needed every yard of a mile when wearing down Nando Royale to land the spoils in the claimer.

Joey Sheridan got a good tune from the well-backed 4/6 favourite in the closing stages to secure a neck victory.

Stable representative Michael Halford said: “He had a good run at the Curragh the last day. We thought with a reproduction of that, provided he stayed, he’d have a winning chance. He looks like a horse that will step forward again.”

More to come

Joe Murphy is also hoping there is more to come from Cromane after her victory in the mile nursery.

Gary Carroll drove his mount to the front in the final 100 yards and she kept on well to post a length and a quarter victory over Two Brigade.

“It was a nice nursery. She’s a very well-bred filly and she’ll be a nicer three-year-old, with soft ground over a mile and a half,” said Murphy.

“Gary said she wanted every yard of the mile. We were lucky the rain came this morning which would have helped.”