EMOTIONAL Hedging swooped in the closing stages to claim a nice prize for connections in the Irish EBF Auction Series Race at Roscommon on Tuesday.

The Gavin Cromwell-trained gelding went to post a 15/2 shot in the €27,0000 seven-furlong contest, having been runner-up on debut at Sligo earlier in the month, for owners the Perennial Racing Syndicate.

Gary Carroll produced his mount off a strong pace to challenge inside the final furlong and the son of Bayside Boy got on top close home to beat Seven Nation Army by half a length.

Cromwell’s race planner Troy Cullen said: “We’re delighted. He was always a nice horse at home, and he had been working well before he went to Sligo and ran very well that day.

“He came on a good bit for the run, and we’re delighted to win a good race like that with him. Gary said he put his head down and galloped the whole way to the line. There is probably a bit more to come from him and he’s progressing well.”

Tight finish

Another on an upward curve is the Donnacha O’Brien-trained Cashel Queen, who landed the preceding maiden over the same trip. Paddy Harnett’s mount also got on top close home after a final-furlong battle with Luca Brillante to record a neck success in Barry Fowler’s colours, at odds of 4/1.

“She’s always shown a lot. Probably on her first couple of runs she was a bit green, and things just didn’t happen,” said Harnett.

“She was a little bit slow at the gates in Down Royal the last day. Today she was on the ball. I was able to put her where I wanted, just behind the pace. When we turned in, I pulled her out and she picked up really well. It’s the first Supremacy I’ve won on.”

New owner

The sire went on to record a double when Sagasti sprang a 28/1 shock in the WTW Willis Handicap for Michael O’Callaghan. Colin Keane led after a furlong on the filly, and she found plenty late on to record a length-and-a-half success over Cool Azul.

“I’m delighted to get that filly’s head in front, she’s been a little bit frustrating,” said O’Callaghan.

“It’s an important winner as it’s the first horse we’ve had for her owner, Khalifa Bin Obood Al Falasi. He is from Dubai and he’ll be thrilled.”

Magnum Cor looks to have bright future

MAGNUM Cor went to post even-money favourite in the District Speciality Coffee Maiden and fulfilled the promise of his debut effort at Leopardstown earlier in the month.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained colt tracked the leader in the mile-and-a-half contest and led over a furlong from home to record a length-and-three-quarter win under Dylan Browne McMonagle.

O’Brien’s race planner Kevin Blake said of the Millennium Stud-owned colt: “That’s job done, everyone saw the promise of his first run.

“I guess this track was never going to be perfect for him, but he got across from a wide draw and stuck his head out well.

“He’s a backward staying type of horse that’s going to progress and get better with experience. We’ll look to go through the grades, hopefully. It’ll probably take a little bit of time.”

More to come

Connections are also hoping Save The Sixes (16/1) can take a step up in class after her victory in the SIS Supporting Irish Racing Fillies Maiden.

Jessica Harrington’s filly finished mid-division on her Curragh debut in June and left that form well behind. Shane Foley made all on the Andrew Rosen and Marcstown Farms-owned filly and she kept on gamely late on to beat Divine Legend by a head.

Assistant Kate Harrington said: “She was a beautiful yearling, but she just grew and grew.

“The ground was just too quick for her the first day, she didn’t let herself down at all. We were waiting for here and thank God she got in this morning (as first reserve).

“She’s a nice filly, going forward, and thanks very much to the owners for having such patience with her. I’d say we’ll try and find a nice listed race in France or somewhere.”

THE decision to give Fianna some time reaped rewards as she took the concluding Class Grass Handicap for Aidan Howard. On her second start for the yard, the 14/1 shot came with a strong run to lead inside the final furlong and record a length-and-a-half success under James Ryan.

“We ran her at the end of April and I wasn’t 100% happy with her afterwards, so I gave her a bit of a break and then went at her again,” said Howard.

“I was hoping we’d get a little bit of rain here and a little bit of an ease and it came in time. I’m delighted to get a winner for the owners (Simon Mullin), they are lovely owners.”

Just in time

In the opener on the card the Denis Hogan-trained Hexagonal (4/1) had to wait for a gap before running out a game winner of the QuinnBet Apprentice Optional Claimer. Reese Holohan got his mount’s head in front inside the final furlong, and he kept on well to record a neck victory over Kakori.

“Turning into the straight he was travelling very well but I just had to bide my time and wait for a gap to come,” said Holohan.

“Denis knows exactly what he’s doing with him and has things pinpointed. I’m just very thankful to be getting rides off people like him.”