ON the Polytrack in Ireland he has few peers but San Andreas showed that he can do it on the grass as well as he notched up his first win on turf for almost three years in the seven-furlong conditions race at Fairyhouse on Friday.

Only five went to post for this contest but it looked an open enough as evidenced by the favourite Bellagio Man being sent off the 11/4 favourite and it was the two longest-priced runners in the race who dominated.

The Hugh Horgan-ridden San Andreas had run very well behind the Ballycorus Stakes winner Real Appeal on his penultimate start and he was restored to that form.

The Annus Mirabilis Syndicate-owned son of Dark Angel had the measure of Bellagio Man from around the furlong pole and he went on to defeat Chief Little Hawk by two and a quarter lengths.

Unfortunately for the winning rider, he was hit with a six-day whip ban.

“Hugh gets on great with him and that’s three he has won on him now. He’s ridden a lovely race on him and it’s just nice to see the horse get his head in front again. He’s a lovely horse to have for the likes of Hugh to ride,” remarked Joseph O’Brien’s representative Brendan Powell.

O’Brien later added to his haul with a very useful-looking type in Okita Soushi who made a winning debut in the Tattersalls Ireland Maiden over a mile and a half.

In the colours of Japanese owner Toshihiro Matsumoto, this Galileo colt finished out his race in great style for Shane Crosse.

He led well over a furlong out and powered clear to prevail by four and a half lengths and consign Malawi to his third straight runner-up finish.

The winner was backed from 15/2 into 100/30 beforehand and looks a stakes class stayer in the making.

Second winner

Apprentice Sorcha Woods rode the second winner of her career as New Society (4/1) added the one-mile, five-furlong handicap to the maiden hurdle success he achieved at this track in April.

An inspired 1,000gns horses in training purchase by the trainer’s son, Marshall Watson, last October, New Society picked off the front-running outsider Cliara heading towards the last furlong and kept on well to see off the staying Parisienne Ways by three-parts of a length. The Galway-bound seven-year-old is owned by the New Socialites Syndicate which is made up of a selection of tradesman, school teachers and plumbers.

DONNACHA O’Brien’s Silver Surfer put his previous experience to good use as he pounced late in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over six furlongs.

After contesting the first juvenile maiden of the season, this Atlantic Thoroughbreds-owned son of Caravaggio had filled the runner-up position on his next three outings but he put an end to that sequence in first-time blinkers.

The pace-setting 50/1 chance Shoebox King looked as though he had the field at full stretch entering the last furlong but the always prominent Silver Surfer (4/1) rallied well for Gavin Ryan late in the day to lead in the last few strides and carry the day by half a length.

“He had some good runs behind nice horses. The step up to six furlongs definitely helped him and I think seven furlongs could be within his range. He’ll step up in class now and I think he’s up to stakes level,” declared the trainer.

Useful sprinter

Adrian McGuinness could have another useful sprinter on his hands in Dream Today (8/1) who bounced back to form to win a reasonably well-contested six-furlong handicap.

After a couple of unplaced efforts, this gelding showed signs of returning to form when sixth at Gowran Park at the start of the week, while he boasted a compelling effort in the shape of his second to the subsequent Group 3 winner Real Appeal two months previously.

Cian MacRedmond produced the Shamrock Thoroughbreds-owned six-year-old came with a telling last-furlong charge to defeat Independent Missy by a head. He will now head for the Scurry Handicap on Oaks weekend.

Natalia Lupini sent out her first winner of the season when the Shane Foley-ridden Dandyville (16/1) bagged the 45-70 rated three-year-old handicap over six furlongs.

On just the fifth outing of his career, the Dr J Syndicate-owned gelding was produced to lead inside the final furlong and he just held off the top-weight and favourite Gordon Bennett who looked a decidedly unlucky loser.

ELLAAT, who failed by just a head to land a huge gamble at Limerick a couple of months ago, came good in the first divide of the 45-65 rated mile-and-a-half handicap.

Noel Kelly’s charge was going smoothly for Joey Sheridan as the leaders turned for home and the 3/1 favourite made his way to the front with over a furlong to run before reaching the line a length and three-parts ahead of Quiet Desire.

He shouldn’t have any trouble adding to his tally this summer.

Noel Meade’s Female Approach (7/1) kicked off what would prove to a be a very industrious weekend – she went on to win at Limerick the following day – when she bagged the second division of the mile-and-a-half handicap. Chris Hayes produced the Patricia Hunt-owned filly to land in front on the line and she looks like one that could progress further when she steps beyond this trip.