JOSEPH O’Brien continued excellent recent form when combining with Dylan Browne McMonagle for a Naas double on Wednesday, with their Rebel Moon (11/4) being an appropriate winner of the featured Group 3 Al Shira’aa Racing Irish EBF Jannah Rose Stakes.

Carrying the colours of the race’s sponsor Al Shira’aa Racing, Rebel Moon was initially held up in fourth of five runners, with the Lope De Vega filly quickening to challenge in the home straight.

Caught U Sleeping produced a strong challenge in the final furlong, but failed by a neck, leaving Rebel Moon to make it two from two, having made a winning debut at Gowran Park in April. The pair finished five lengths clear of the remainder.

O’Brien reported: “We’re delighted with Rebel Moon. She did well to win on debut and the form has worked out well. We just had a little hold up with her after that race, so we missed a little bit of time. This was an obvious target, given the ownership.

“It was a lovely ride from Dylan. She looked green in the race and I think she won from having a bit of class so, hopefully, we are still scratching the surface with her. She has some nice options in France as well as in Ireland.”

More to come

O’Brien and Browne McMonagle later landed the Fox Dunlavin Maiden with the Thoroughbred Racing Syndicate and Bronsan Racing-owned Listentodwindblow (2/1 favourite).

Listentodwindblow made almost all of the running and, while strongly pressed in the final furlong by Transcript, held on well to score by half a length.

O’Brien stated: “Dylan got to control it and he quickened up well, although it was a tough finish. We’re very happy with him, he had to be tough and he was.

“I wouldn’t be ruling out running again on Sunday (in the Tulfarris Hotel And Golf Resort Maddenstown Handicap at the Curragh).

“He had previously been rated high - in the mid 90s and is now 89, so I think there might be more to come from him.”

Harrington/Foley double not without controversy

JESSICA Harrington and stable jockey Shane Foley were others to combine for doubles, landing a rare Irish flat ‘match’ race and later a somewhat controversial maiden.

Four runners had been declared for the Race & Stay Irish Racing Tours Rated Race, but following two non-runners, the 82-rated Oro Blanco (8/11 favourite) led 87-rated opponent Gavoo (1/1 favourite) in the six-furlong race.

The Rebels & Rogues Syndicate-owned favourite battled well to score by three-parts of a length, following up on his maiden win earlier in the month.

Harrington said: “He was looking at everything but was always doing enough and is progressive. He’s run over a mile, and seven furlongs, but he’s probably not a six-furlong horse, so could step up in trip again. He’s a big horse for a Havana Grey and hopefully can improve again.”

Sizeable ban

There was a sting in the tail for Foley following his second win aboard Moonlit Sun (9/4 favourite) in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden, as the rider received a nine-day suspension for improper riding.

The Moyglare Stud Farm home-bred was short of room behind the leaders over a furlong out and, while manoeuvring right-handed, Foley’s mount bumped against eventual runner-up White Sand Beach. Moonlit Sun had scored comfortably at the line, so the result stood, although Foley was adjudged to be in breach of Rule 214 in that he had ridden improperly.

Harrington confirmed: “Moonlit Sun was just green, but won easily. She’s a nice filly and she’ll probably step up to mile and a quarter next. I don’t know where we go, but we’ll probably look for a bit of blacktype, maybe in a fillies’ listed race.”

THE opening Dooley Insurance Irish EBF Fillies Maiden saw Brazilian native Diego Lima register a first riding success in Ireland, on his fellow countryman Diego Dias’ Brazilian Diva (12s - 22/1).

Making her fourth start, Brazilian Diva raced prominently on her own down the centre and joined her rivals two furlongs out. Asserting before the final furlong, she kept on to win by two and a quarter lengths, eased down.

Lima, who is based with Dias, revealed: “I have ridden 270 winners in Brazil and I’ve had a few in Australia as well. It’s my first winner in Ireland, I’ve only had four rides here and one in England. Things are going well and I’m happy with the place and the people, everyone is good.”

Regarding Brazilian Diva, he added: “She’s a good work filly at home, but the last couple of runs she hasn’t done very well. Today she was happy, comfortable and did the job that she does every day at home.”

Career best

Killyclogher Rose was another to improve as Andy Oliver’s handicap debutante caused a 20/1 upset in the Colm White Bookmaker Apprentice Handicap under Sam Coen.

The 66-rated four-year-old was having her fourth start today and having arrived from mid-field, finished well to score by three-parts of a length for owners Brian Mellon and P McBride.

Coen explained: “She just had a little look when she hit the front, but I was holding them all the way to the line. I think she’ll step up in trip again as she galloped right out through the line.

“Andy (Oliver) told me that they liked her and that she was showing all the right signs at home. The main thing was to get her switched off and to get her to do things right. She put it all together, so hopefully she’ll go on and win again.”

Back in front

Platino Bianco was another 20/1 shot to oblige when recording a second career success in the ARKequine Handicap for trainer Conor Maxwell, jockey Robert Whearty and owners Breen White and Karena Maxwell.

The daughter of Dark Angel raced behind the leaders and made late headway to score by half a length from Tawaazon.

Maxwell reported: “Coming back to a straight track on fast ground was the key today, as she doesn’t gallop around a bend. I thought if she bounced right and got a bit of room, she’d have a chance.

“She’s one for England all day, but it’s the expense of going over there, so it’s nice that it happened today.”