HENRY de Bromhead, who has his jumping team in tremendous shape, made his presence felt as the promising Gorane belied odds of 20/1 to become the trainer’s first two-year-old winner in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.

This daughter of Dream Ahead made her debut at this track 12 days previously and despite running quite green she showed definite promise to finish sixth to Shes Ranger. The benefit of that initial outing coupled with a drop back to six furlongs showed the daughter of Dream Ahead in a better light and she produced an altogether more professional effort.

Gorane broke alertly for Declan McDonogh and raced on the pace throughout. She held a definite lead from halfway and in the straight she produced a thoroughly willing display to keep her rivals at bay. Pennsylvania, Ice Canyon and Golden State all threatened but Gorane refused to yield and saw off the first-named by half a length.

“I don’t have too many to compare her with at home but I did always think that she was nice,” said the winning trainer, whose wife, Heather, owns the filly. “Wayne Lordan rode her the first day and thought she was really nice but just green. She knew her job tonight and she was tough too.”

A four-strong challenge from Aidan O’Brien for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden worked out well as the Ballydoyle horses took first, second and fourth with War Secretary coming out on top. This seven-furlong event saw the War Front colt make his first appearance since an encouraging debut in a smart Curragh maiden on Guineas weekend. Donnacha O’Brien had the 11/4 chance looking on from second before striking for home inside the last quarter of a mile. The race was soon in safe keeping and War Secretary was a thoroughly convincing three and a quarter-length winner.

“On their home work he’s probably very similar to Seamus’s horse (the runner-up Homesman) but the benefit of previous experience was a help to my horse,” commented the winning rider. “I got a nice lead into the race and he quickened up nicely when I asked him to go about his business.”

SECOND SUCCESS

Promising apprentice Danny Sheehy, who got off the mark at this track earlier in the month, notched up his second success on Mo Henry (9/2) in the six furlongs 47-65 rated handicap. A winner at Ayr earlier in the year, the four-year-old got the better of a last furlong tussle with Strategic Force.

“He’s well up to winning at this level when he puts it in and hopefully we’ll get one or two more out of him. Danny’s 10lb claim was a big help,” reported Adrian Keatley of the Shevlin/Whelan Syndicate-owned winner.

Robert Smithers showed composure and patience in abundance and got the top-weight Dark Alliance (9/2) home in front in the apprentice rider’s handicap over seven furlongs. As he looked to record the second success of his career, Smithers bided his time at the rear and it was only after straightening up that he asked his mount to go forward. Dark Alliance obliged by cruising into contention and he stuck to his task well to defeat Stamp Of Authority by three-parts of a length.

“I’m delighted for Robert. Things are just starting to happen for him and he kept a lovely, cool head there, this horse isn’t the easiest of rides,” declared Michael Halford, who reported that the Shane Reville-owned gelding could come under the hammer at Goffs next week.

Similar tactics yielded another success for Halford as Shane Foley brought Yamato from last to first in the mile handicap. Foley deftly threaded his way through the pack from the turn in and the 9/1 chance responded to pressure to beat Live Twice by three parts of a length.

“He had some good runs but I wasn’t quite sure if he’d stay the mile so I told Shane to drop in from his wide draw and they went good gallop which suited,” remarked Halford.

Free Running, who will come under the hammer at the Goffs Horses In Training Sale on Wednesday, made it two wins from three starts for Johnny Feane in the seven-furlong fillies claimer. Last month’s Laytown maiden winner, a 9,000gns purchase during the summer, made short work of these opponents under Gary Halpin. The Orla Reynolds and Denis Beary-owned daughter of Iffraaj led a quarter of a mile out and pulled almost four lengths clear of Intense Stylist. The latter attracted a remarkable 12 claims and she came to Albert Moriarty for €10,000.

“She ran a blinder here last time (fourth to Kadra) and this looked a good opportunity for her coming back in class,” reflected winning trainer Johnny Feane.

A 9lb rise in the weights for two placed runs earlier in the autumn failed to prevent Creeping Ivy (7/2) from getting off the mark in the first division of the 47-65 rated mile and a half handicap. The Tony Martin-trained filly was partnered by Oisin Orr and she pounced inside the distance for a comfortable two-length triumph over Ondamoura. The daughter of Mustameet carries the colours of the Leopardstown Members Racing Club. Fresh from beating 25 rivals in a Curragh handicap just over a fortnight previously, Jim Bolger’s New Direction (7/2) followed up in the second divide of the 45-65 rated handicap. On the 10th outing of his career the Jackie Bolger-owned and Kevin Manning-ridden four-year-old steadily took the measure of the front running Asian Wing in the straight en route to a length and a quarter success over Alhellal. The winner is also due to be sold at Goffs on Wednesday.

ACTING STEWARDS

N.B. Wachman, J. Rearden, J. Tyrrell, Mrs T.K. Cooper

HORSE TO FOLLOW

HOMESMAN (A.P. O’Brien): This son of War Front showed distinct signs of inexperience when making his debut in the maiden won by War Secretary. However, he finished out his race in taking fashion to be second and he looks a colt with a fine future

Suspension

DANNY Sheehy received a two day suspension after failing to weigh in on the fifth-placed Dea Dia in the handicap won by Creeping Ivy.