IN a race that her trainer has almost made his own in recent years, Turret Rocks recaptured her very best form as she edged a titanic conclusion to the ICON Meld Stakes, which has set her up for a return to the big time.

Only four runners went to post for this nine-furlong Group 3. It attracted Derby fifth and odds-on favourite Hazapour and Group 1 regular Deauville.

Indeed this pair dominated the market to the exclusion of the other two runners, with Turret Rocks and the maiden winner Curly both going off at 14/1.

Formerly successful in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes and placed several times at Group 1 level, Turret Rocks showed that all her old ability burns brightly with a tremendously game effort.

Kevin Manning had her stalking Deauville from the outset and the front pair then squared off over the last quarter of a mile.

Deauville responded well to this challenge and as the last furlong loomed Hazapour was almost on terms with the leading pair, but Turret Rocks was not to be deterred.

The unyielding mare got the better of Deauville in the final yards. The latter was beaten a head by the Bolger-trained Moonlight Magic in this race last year and went down by a neck this time.

Hazapour was three parts of a length back in third, with only half a length back to Curly in fourth.

Frankie Dettori subsequently reported to the stewards that Hazapour may not have appreciated the ground.

“She was very good and she got some super assistance from the saddle,” said Bolger of the June Judd-owned five-year-old.

“After that we’ll probably keep her to a mile and a quarter, or less, and aim for the Prix de l’Opera on Arc weekend. The only worry about that would be the possibility of soft ground. Maybe she will get an invite to Hong Kong after that.

“Herself and Cimeara (Bolger’s Group 3 winner at this track last week) are closely related – they are out of sisters.”

PROMISING PERFORMANCE

Tom Mullins introduced a two-year-old of considerable promise in Mia Mento (14/1) who turned in a splendid effort on her debut to see off the favourite, Tiple, in the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Maiden.

A €30,000 yearling purchase, this daughter of Casamento showed just why her trainer has her entered in next month’s Group 1 Phoenix Stakes.

She cruised into the lead for Niall McCullagh inside the last quarter of a mile and then showed a fine attitude to hold the oncoming Tiple by a short-head.

“She’s never put a foot wrong since we got her. She’s been very professional,” remarked Mullins.

“She got tired in the last furlong which she was entitled to and she’s probably had a hard enough race so we might give her about a month before running her again.”

After narrowly missing out on Tiple, Chris Hayes enjoyed better fortune on Motashakelwho dug deep to justify favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.

The Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned 7/2 chance looked as though he might struggle to get on terms with the duelling pair of Syrena and Channel Stuffer for much of the straight. To his considerable credit though, the Olympic Glory colt dug deep to grind out a neck triumph.

“He’s a very kind horse with a good attitude. He’d probably like to go another furlong with more ease in the ground and those conditions could enable him to be competitive at a higher grade. We might look at races like the Beresford Stakes for him later in the season,” declared Prendergast.

John Oxx’s impressive form continued with Waikuku whose victory in the seven-furlong maiden provided the trainer with a fifth winner from his last 10 runners.

This Thomas Breen-owned son of Harbour Watch showed lots of promise to finish fifth in a quality Curragh maiden last August but he hadn’t run since then.

Despite his 11-month absence from the track, the Colm O’Donoghue-ridden Waikuku was the 11/10 favourite and there was lots to like about his finishing effort over the last furlong as he saw off the 82-rated National Glory by a length and a half.

“He was a bit rusty and Colm gave him time to warm up in the straight. I think he’ll be effective from seven to nine furlongs and Colm said the ground even felt a little slow on him,” remarked Oxx.

“He’s a good horse, the best I’ve had in the last few years, and he might step up for the Platinum Stakes next if I can’t find a graduation race for him.”

FIRST WINNER

Fresh from her second to Focus Of Attention at Fairyhouse the previous evening, Secret Memories (16/1) pounced late to provide jockey Killian Hennessy and now Curragh-based trainer Katy Brown with their first winner of the season in the Icon Apprentice Handicap.

Korbous seemed sure to score when he strode to the front nearing the last furlong but he was unable to withstand the surge of Secret Memories, who carries the colours of her trainer.

“I’ve recently moved to the Curragh and I’ve been granted a full licence. I’ve 16 in at the moment and have room for more so it would be great to get a few more like her into the yard,” reported the trainer.

“Maybe we will look at Galway or instead go back across to England.”

The Mouse Doctor also improved on a second-place finish at Fairyhouse on Wednesday by landing the near one-mile, five-furlong Ryans Event Cleaning Specialists Handicap.

As he went in search of his first win for two years, Tony Martin’s charge moved to the front for Robbie Colgan with over a furlong to run and he lasted home by half a length from Remembered Joy.

The fast-ground-loving 5/1 chance is owned by the Here For The Craic Partnership whose colours were carried with such distinction by Heartbreak City.

Joseph O’Brien’s Waiting-fortheday (3/1) made it four wins in succession in the three-year-old seven-furlong handicap.

The Elzaam filly was rated 57 when she began her sequence of victories and a 6lb penalty for last week’s Dundalk success meant that was, in effect, running off 79.

Donnacha O’Brien’s mount certainly had something to spare in defeating Betsey Trotter by a length and quarter.

Galway could be on the agenda for the John Dollard-owned filly who looks capable of defying another penalty.