THE admirable Sea The Lion has next month’s £500,000 Ebor Handicap at York in his sights after coming out the right side of a terrific finish to make it back to back wins in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Ragusa Handicap.

Just under two weeks previously Jarlath Fahey’s charge edged out Gustavus Vassa by nose in the Cork Derby and this duo dominated once more, the only difference being that they were separated by a head this time.

Now the huge riches of the Knavesmire loom large on the horizon for this remarkable seven-year-old who spent almost three years out of action with injury at one stage of his career and was a stone higher than when winning this race in 2017.

As he has been for eight of the gelding’s 13 starts, Ronan Whelan was on board Sea The Lion (7/1) and he produced his mount with a sustained bid over the last quarter of a mile. Gustavus Vassa went to the front shortly after turning in and it wasn’t long before Sea The Lion was his only likely threat.

The latter had to give his all to find a way past his old rival but he dug deep into his reserves to find a way past in the final yards. There was eight lengths back to the third-placed Share The Honour.

SUSPENSION

The winning jockey was hit with a three-day careless riding ban.

“The ground is plenty quick enough and I debated whether to run him right up until the race,” said a delighted Fahey who trains the Sea The Lion for his wife, Suzanne, and the winning jockey’s mother Kathleen.

“He loves that quick ground but he’s had his problems so we have to be careful too. He just seems to know where the line is and all being well he will head to York for the Ebor.”

In a race that traditionally acts as a notable pointer for some quality contests through the second half of the season, Aidan O’Brien’s Peach Tree stepped forward from her initial outing to lead home a field of interesting types in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.

The sister to Flattering was the 6/4 favourite to build on her debut fifth behind Mohawk and she did so from the front.

Ryan Moore’s mount began to wind up the tempo from two furlongs out and she soon held a useful lead which enabled her to cross the line with half a length to spare over the staying on newcomer Queen Medb. The winner’s stablemate Hermosa caught the eye with a strong finishing third.

“She came forward lovely from her first run and after that Seamie said that we shouldn’t be afraid to ride her forward. She’ll step forward again and we’ll look at those good fillies races with her now,” declared O’Brien.

The Ballydoyle trainer and Moore ended the evening with a treble which also featured a decisive success for Lucius Tiberius in the 10-furlong Paddy Power Onside App Handicap. The Camelot colt was turning out quickly after an unplaced run at Royal Ascot and was clearly none the worse for his exertions there.

When Ryan Moore angled him out to make his challenge with over a furlong to run the 9/4 favourite quickened up smartly to pull two and a quarter lengths clear of Active Approach.

“Ryan felt after Ascot it was worth bringing him back in trip from a mile and a half and he felt there that he could even wait a bit longer before asking him to challenge. The Camelots handle this ground well and they are able to quicken off it too,” reflected O’Brien.

Somerset Maugham (5/2) somehow provided the middle leg of the treble with a last gasp triumph in the Kildare Brewing Company At The Silken Thomas Irish EBF Maiden over a mile.

The three-year-old son of Galileo was returning from 53 weeks off the track and it seemed certain that he would have to settle for a minor role when the 33/1 newcomer With Herself moved ahead inside the last furlong.

BOBBING FINISH

Somerset Maugham responded well to pressure though to match his rival’s sweeping effort and he forced a bobbing finish before getting the verdict by a nose.

“I was sure he was second. He’s a horse that should stay a bit further and he’ll probably move into a handicap next,” reflected O’Brien.

After ending a near four-year spell in the wilderness last month Shore Step promptly notched up another course and distance triumph in the Joe.ie Handicap.

The 5/1 blazed a trail under Shane Foley and his rivals always seemed to be struggling to reel him in. Despite drifting out to his left somewhat Shore Step, racing in the colours of JP Murtagh Racing, remained in control and he crossed the line with a length to spare.

“I’ve had him a while but he’s clicked into gear and is after turning a corner. Shane said he loved it out in front and fast ground suits him well,” commented Johnny Murtagh who was making it an impressive nine winners in three weeks.

Young apprentice Gavin Ryan bagged a victory to cherish as he landed the Her.ie Apprentice Derby on the Jim Bolger-trained Dawn Hoofer (9/2).

This was a second win in less than three weeks for the Jackie Bolger-owned filly who has been holding her form well during a busy period that saw her making her fourth appearance in 18 days. Ryan sent his mount on turning for home and the pair opened up a decent lead which enabled them to get home by half a length from the staying on Azzuri.

Ryan, who is heading into his Leaving Certificate year, was notching up his eighth career success and his fourth for Bolger.

“He (Gavin) is a good rider. He’ll probably be back here some day on Derby Day in the number one spot although he might have to wait a few years,” declared the trainer.

Dermot Weld’s Kisanga progressed from a solid debut fourth at Naas less than two weeks previously to take the Sportsjoe.ie Irish EBF Maiden over 10 furlongs.

As the runners neared the last quarter of a mile Declan McDonogh’s mount loomed up menacingly on the outside of the duelling pair National Security and National Wealth. To her credit, the Aga Khan-owned daughter of Redoute’s Choice battled well to defeat the 91-rated National Security by a length.

“She did what we hoped she would. She’s a lovely big mare who battled well and got a good ride – I asked Declan to let her down gradually on the ground and he did that. It’s quick ground out there, quick enough for any horse,” remarked Weld. “We’ll go gently with her and she will stay further.”

ACTING STEWARDS

P. Caffrey, J.F. Gillespie, T. Hunt, Mrs J.O. Onions, P.D. Matthews

HORSE TO FOLLOW

GODDESS (A.P. O’Brien): This daughter of Camelot had to settle for ninth in the maiden won by Peach Tree but her position doesn’t remotely reflect the promise of her effort and she got no run at all over the last couple of furlongs. She is a filly of potential for the second half of the season.