THE Ger O’Leary-trained Real Force signalled that he could well emerge as a player at stakes level before the end of the season with a likeable victory over Aztec Parade in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Race.

Real Force was without a win in five starts after making a winning debut at Naas in April 2019. However, his two runs this season which yielded a fourth in a Naas Group 3 won by Art Power and a second to the smart Keats at Killarney, marked him out as a decent type and he more than confirmed that impression with a cosy win over a decent 92-rated rival. Chris Hayes was on board Real Force and he produced the Lance Bloodstock-owned gelding with his bid turning for home.

The 5/2 shot was on top entering the last furlong and he succeeded by two and a half lengths to earn a shot at a listed race at Naas next weekend.

“I was impressed with him and he has settled and switched off very well today,” said Hayes. “I think better or looser ground (it was yielding to soft) would suit him better and next year will be his year. He could be a horse for something like the Gladness Stakes.”

Andy Oliver has been enjoying quite an industrious season with his team and has now won with five of the 16 horses he has run this term after Danger Money (13/2) struck under Gavin Ryan in the extended mile and a half maiden.

Smart bumper

A solid fourth at Down Royal in a maiden a fortnight previously put this son of Nayef into contention and there was plenty to like about the manner of his half-length success over the smart bumper horse Dewcup.

The 6/5 favourite Silver Fox was a disappointing seventh but was found to be lame post-race.

“He got caught wide and didn’t handle the road crossing at Down Royal so with a smooth passage I was hoping he could be bang there,” declared Oliver who trains the winner for J.P. Ledwidge.

“He’s a very well-bred horse being a half-brother to Dandino so he’s entitled to improve with distance and age.”

The Denis Cullen-trained Zephron (3/1) might just be a horse to stay on the right side of as he continues to move up in trip as he progressed from two placed runs at sprint trips to make his mark in an extended seven-furlong maiden.

This 76-rated son of Ivawood was showing in front for Ross Coakley with over a furlong to run and was a clear-cut winner at the line for owner Richard MacBriatharlaoch.

“He was maybe on top of his head a little over sprint trips and this distance has helped him. In fact I think he’d get a mile and a quarter no problem,” remarked Cullen.

“My daughter Annalise rides him out at home every morning and she told me yesterday he was in great shape.”

Another promising Bolger juvenile

JIM Bolger has sent out several promising two-year-old winners this season and another came in the shape of Jack Duggan (20/1) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden over an extended seven furlongs.

From the second crop of the American-based Grade 1-winning War Front horse Jack Milton, this colt was conspicuous by the ease with which he was travelling nearing the straight. When he loomed up to challenge and was asked to assert by Rory Cleary, the Jackie Bolger-owned colt did so in pleasing fashion to defeat Skilled Warrior by one and three-quarter lengths. He could be quite smart.

Smart Mateo

There was also a decent two-year-old on show in the opener where Mateo Cruz won the five-furlong Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Maiden on his first start for Joseph O’Brien. This colt, who was purchased out of Eddie Harty’s yard following a debut fourth in a Curragh maiden two months ago, produced a nice display.

He was squeezed up a little at the start but recovered well for Shane Crosse and was much the strongest over the last furlong as he pulled a length and a half clear. This Ben Wong-owned son of Elzaam will progress well as he moves up in trip.

AMATEUR jockey Niamh Fahey rode her first winner in just under five years as Place Des Vosges (9/2), trained by her brother Mark, came out the right side of a cracking finish to the lady riders’ handicap.

The North County Syndicate-owned winner looked to have this race wrapped up early in the straight but a rallying Millford Sound and a staying-on Rock On Seamie both threatened deep inside the last furlong before Place Des Vosges got home by a head.

Place Des Vosges has only been out of the frame once in five starts and is now a dual winner since joining Fahey. Despite the tight margins involved in this victory she could easily progress again.

Shauna Larkin, who rode Rock On Seamie, got a two-day whip ban and Aine O’Connor received a one-day suspension for her efforts on the fifth-placed What Wonders Weave.

Big prices

In her brief career four-race career, Kourvoisier has made a habit of popping up at big prices and, after scoring at 80/1 at Sligo last month, Ross O’Sullivan’s charge bounced back from an unplaced handicap debut at Galway to strike at 66/1 in the 50-85 rated extended seven-furlong handicap.

This clearly useful daughter of Anjaal, who carries the colours of the Wasters Syndicate, led over a furlong from home and Gary Halpin didn’t have to get too animated for her to defeat High Altitude by three and a quarter lengths.