WESTERN Australia recaptured the form that saw reach the frame at Group 1 level last season as he gave Aidan O’Brien a second consecutive success in the Irish Stallion Farms EF Yeats Stakes.

Only five went to post for the third edition of this one-mile, five-furlong isted race and the best form belonged to Western Australia by virtue of his close third to Magna Grecia in a Doncaster Group 1 last October. The 2/1 shot hadn’t reached those heights in two previous outings this term but he took a step forward under Donnacha O’Brien who always looked to have the front-running Pythion covered in the straight.

From over a furlong out, Western Australia edged ahead and he asserted late on to prevail by a length and a half. The favourite Masaff was a further two and three-quarter lengths away in third. Aidan O’Brien confirmed at Naas on Sunday that the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot is on the winner’s agenda.

The O’Brien team went on to record a double with Barbados (4/6) in the 10-furlong maiden. The 89-rated brother to Maybe, who had to settle for fourth behind Brogue in a Cork maiden the previous week, enjoyed a straightforward success from the front and finished with five and a half lengths to spare over Elizabeth Way.

Keane double

Ahead of an assault on both the Irish 1000 and 2000 Guineas, Paddy Twomey could hardly have string in better form and he made it four winners from his last six runners with the newcomer Double Martini (100/30) in the five-furlong Navanadventurecentre.ie Maiden. This Morna McDowall-owned son of Mastercraftsman, who is closely related to Zoffany and Rostropovich, showed a fine attitude for Colin Keane and kept pulling out more over the last furlong and a half to defeat the experienced favourite Royal Court by a neck.

“He’s a nice horse and he’d been working well. He’ll get further but this five furlongs was a nice place to start him out over. Morna very kindly sent him to us in the spring,” stated Twomey.

Colin Keane then added to his tally aboard the Ger Lyons-trained My Laureate in the five-furlong three-year-old handicap. The daughter of Rajj, who is an own-sister to the very smart Insayshable and a half-sister to the high-class Ainippe, turned in a pillar-to-post tour de force and wasn’t in the remotest danger over the last couple of furlongs.

The Homer Scott-owned 4/1 chance hit the line almost five lengths ahead of Sundance Star.

“The penny dropped with me and not the filly when she ran at Naas last time (fourth to Flash Gordon) that five furlongs is what she wants and we’ll keep going for more of the same,” commented Lyons.

Garvey’s lucky family

Owner Pat Garvey’s affinity for a family that has previously served him well was rewarded with a victory for Rebel Tale (11/2) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden. A first two-year-old winner of the season for Andy Slattery, this Tale Of The Cat colt is out of a half-sister to the Garvey-owned Arch Rebel who won four times at stakes level for Noel Meade as well as finishing a close fourth in the 2007 Hong Kong Vase.

This $37,000 yearling kept close to the pace for Ben Coen and finished out well to score by three-quarters of a length and build on an encouraging debut fourth at Naas last month.

THE English import Aleef (11/2) followed up a second at Naas last month with a victory in the near six-furlong handicap which continued an upswing in his fortunes since he joined Ken Condon. The six-year-old, once rated as high as 93 but running off 78 here, was always on the pace for Shane Foley and maintained a good tempo to the line to defeat Amanaat by three-quarters of a length. Aleef is owned by the Cinco Partnership.

Aleef and Shane Foley win the navanadventurecentre.ie Maiden / Healy Racing

On-song Haqeeba

LIAM Lennon’s Haqeeba maintained the record that has seen her win in each of the four seasons that she has raced for her trainer.

The six-year-old was certainly on her ‘A game’ in the five-furlong 45-65 rated handicap as she blazed a trail from early on under Declan McDonogh to finish three lengths ahead of Takeachancejimmy. The 14/1 chance is owned by Newry-based Maurice McCavitt.

First for Roche

Padraig Roche sent out his first winner on the flat as Walking On Glass sprang a 20/1 surprise in the one-mile, five-furlong handicap.

Unplaced in three flat runs last year and down the field in three maiden hurdle outings in the winter, the Fivers & Tenners Syndicate-owned gelding turned in a revelatory effort under Gary Halpin to upstage the odds-on Linger.