THE relentless improver Kastasa continued where she left off last season as she made a winning return in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Vintage Tipple Stakes to give Dermot Weld his first stakes winner of 2020.

The Aga Khan-owned four-year-old, who ended last season with a Group 3 triumph at the Curragh in September, was understandably a little rusty on her comeback and was being pushed along by Oisin Orr with around five furlongs to run in this one-and-three-quarter-mile race.

The 6/4 favourite responded generously and a sustained charge carried her to the front with well over a furlong to run.

Nan Yehi, who won a Ballinrobe maiden at the start of the week, attempted to chase her down but was still three-quarters of a length adrift at the finish.

“She’ll go for the Group 3 Stanerra Stakes (August 23rd) at Naas next. The race wasn’t run to suit her but class is class and she will improve for this run too. The Irish St Leger could be a possible long-term target for her,” commented Weld.

Gowran Park is quickly developing into a happy hunting ground for Musalsal (3/1) who added to his success over a mile here several weeks previously by taking the 45-65 rated handicap over an extended nine furlongs for the Musalsal Syndicate

Ronan Whelan was once again patience personified on the four-year-old and just as they did here last month, the pair pounced deep inside the last furlong to score by half a length. This was the four-year-old’s second success since he was picked up by his trainer Richard O’Brien for 17,000gns at last year’s Autumn Horses In Training Sale.

Cleary winner

After sending out his first winner since November 2018 at Ballinrobe on Wednesday, Tom Cleary promptly followed up with Kodiac Prince in the three-year-old 45-70 rated seven-furlong handicap.

A recent fourth to Take My Hand at Leopardstown pointed to the winner’s chances but he was still allowed to go off at 25/1 under Rory Cleary. The Helena O’Toole-owned gelding got to the front inside the last furlong to defeat the aforementioned Take My Hand by a length and a quarter.

A double for O’Brien and Crosse

JOSEPH O’Brien enjoyed another good day with two winners and his Never Forgotten (3/1) looked a filly with a future at a much higher level of competition in landing the first division of the one-mile fillies’ maiden.

This daughter of Galileo and the Jersey Stakes heroine Ishvana had shaped up well on her first two starts, including when third to Etneya at the Curragh last month.

She took a further step forward under Shane Crosse to defeat the Irish 1000 Guineas third So Wonderful by three and a half lengths for Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and AnneMarie O’Brien

“That was a nice performance from an improving filly and you could see her being a really nice filly over a longer trip,” stated the trainer’s representative Brendan Powell.

O’Brien and Crosse were also successful with Pugin (15/8) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction (C&G) Maiden over an extended nine furlongs.

This Gigginstown House Stud-owned son of Dutch Art deserved to get his turn after runner-up finishes in maidens at Leopardstown and Killarney and he turned in a straightforward front-running effort to defeat the 82-rated Charlie Bassett by two and a quarter lengths.

Pugin will stick to the flat for the time being but will go juvenile hurdling later this year and could be a smart recruit to that sphere.

Epona calls the tune for McCreery

THE Willie McCreery-trained and Billy Lee-ridden Epona Plays deservedly got her turn in the second division of the one-mile fillies’ maiden which leaves her in a position to fulfil her realistic blacktype aspirations. This 89-rated daughter of Australia got to the front inside the last quarter of a mile and stayed on resolutely to score by half a length.

“It’s great for her owner, Renzo Forni, as she’s the fourth one out of the mare that I’ve trained and they’ve all won,” remarked McCreery. “Billy said she liked the slow ground which will be a help to her later in the season. She’s had a couple of quick races so we’ll give her a bit of time before she runs again.”

There was another capable type on show in the opening Foran Equine Irish EBF Fillies Auction Maiden where Ger Lyons’ Amber Kite (11/10) progressed on the form that saw her begin her career with two placed efforts at Limerick.

Colin Keane made the running on the daughter of New Bay, who carries the colours of Sean Jones, and she ran out a very willing winner after containing the persistent effort of Anna Strada.

“She’s been busy so we will take a pull with her but blacktype will be the aim and Colin feels she is up to that because she is so honest,” stated the trainer’s brother, Shane.

Two winners

James Barrett made it two winners in four days as the first-time-blinkered Next In Line struck at 16/1 in the apprentice handicap over an extended nine furlongs.

Next In Line jumped a little slowly but Gavin Ryan soon had her showing in front and she maintained an unfaltering tempo in the straight to defeat Slieve Bearnagh by a length and a quarter.

“We fancied her in Sligo last time she didn’t run her race. She didn’t jump or travel so we put blinkers on her. She always worked like she’d win a maiden so I knew she was well handicapped if she put her best foot forward,” declared Barrett, who suggested that the Formula Four Syndicate-owned filly could turn out at Galway this weekend.