THE promising juvenile Caravaggio headed a superb evening for Aidan O’Brien as the Ballydoyle trainer followed his treble at Navan the previous afternoon with a four timer which began in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

Evidently a bold first showing was expected from Caravaggio as he was sent off a red hot 1/3 favourite and he produced an assured display which means that Royal Ascot is already on the cards. For much of the race Seamie Heffernan was content to take on lead on the son of Scat Daddy who looked quite green at various stages. When Caravaggio did strike the front with over a furlong to run he settled the outcome in a few strides and he just needed to be pushed out to finish a length and three-parts ahead of Lundy.

“The first two are two nice colts and Dad thinks a lot of the winner,” said Joseph O’Brien. “We think he’s the real deal, everyone who has sat on him likes him a lot. It was his first day away from home and he was going around a bend for the first time so he was entitled to be green.”

RETURN TO GLORY

Aside from the O’Brien four timer the former Group 1 performer Yuften showed that he is well on the way to recapturing his former glories in the seven furlongs conditions race. Now based with Johnny Murtagh, Yuften made an encouraging debut at this track last month and he took a marked step forward in this four runner contest.

Even though his previous form included a second past the post in the 2014 Prix Jean Prat the Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar-owned five-year-old was returned the 11/4 second favourite behind Sir Isaac Newton (2/5). However, the race bore an entirely different complexion to the market. Connor King allowed Yuften to cruise to the front inside the last quarter of a mile and the pair coasted to a four and three-quarter lengths triumph over the disappointing favourite.

“He’s a fast ground horse so I was delighted this race was put on (following the cancellation of Tipperary last week),” said Murtagh. “He really started to settle in well and hopefully we can get him back to somewhere near his best. This is a good trip for him but he could also go up or back in trip by a furlong and he’s got entries in the Greenlands and the Amethyst – we just need to decide what the right option is.”

Earlier Ardhoomey (5/1) turned in a quality performance in the five furlongs handicap. The Ger Lyons-trained four-year-old, who was placed at Listed level and in a premier handicap last term, was having his first start since September and was taking on some capable opponents who all had the benefit of a recent outing. The lack of a run made no difference though as Ardhoomey turned this into a one sided affair. The Colin Keane-ridden son of Dark Angel eased to the front with imperceptible effort over a furlong from home and he ran out a comfortable length and three-quarters winner over Kasbah.

“He’s a lovely horse. After his last run he had another wind operation and there’s no doubt that he’s a better horse for it than he was last season,” reflected Lyons who trains the gelding for his breeder John Quinn. “That was a good performance and hopefully we’ll have a lot of fun with him this season.”

O’BRIEN SUCCESS

Meanwhile the second O’Brien success of the evening came when Seventh Heaven (9/10) progressed on her two juvenile outings with an authoritive display in the one mile fillies maiden. The half-sister to the Middle Park Stakes hero Crusade was among five that held every chance with over a furlong to run but she was much the strongest in the closing stages. She responded to Heffernan’s promptings to brush aside the newcomer Heartful by three and a quarter lengths.

“She’s a lovely filly. She was a bit weak last year but won nicely and I think the Musidora Stakes or the Blue Wind could be next for her. She should be better stepping up in trip and good ground would be important to her,” declared Joseph O’Brien.

Donnacha O’Brien was on hand to partner his father’s last two winners which first took in Bravery in the colts maiden over a mile. This close relation to a host of talented O’Brien inmates showed good progress from his comeback sixth to Embiran at the Curragh last month. The 1/2 favourite asserted as the last furlong loomed, accounting for the 81-rated Mittersill by two and a quarter lengths.

“He had a good run last year and made a nice start on bad ground at the Curragh where he was a bit keen,” declared Joseph O’Brien. “I’d say there’s a good chance he could go for the Irish 2000 Guineas now.”

The four timer drew to a dramatic close as Stone Mountain (5/1) dead-heated with the Johnny Feane-trained and Gary Halpin-ridden Spruce Meadows (5/1) in the three-year-old mile handicap. Spruce Meadows led before halfway but he looked set for second when Stone Mountain was able to angle off the rail and deliver a challenge that carried him to the front inside the distance. To his credit the Ann Cassidy-owned Spruce Meadows fought back to draw level in the last stride. Feane reported that his charge would have another run before going on a break while Stone Mountain, who is owned by the Annus Mirabilis Syndicate, could go jumping later in due course. This was the third time the dead-heaters have met this year and they have never been separated by more than three-parts of a length.

Coreczka (2/1), who is one of just two horses under the care of Clare Cannon, made it three wins in succession in the mile handicap. The ultra reliable daughter of Intense Focus nailed the favourite Eagle Valley in the last stride to prevail by a short head under Oisin Orr.

“She’s been a fantastic mare to me,” reflected the trainer whose father Geoff owns the winner. “Only for this meeting being put in she’d have been out in the field and that’s where she will go now.”

ACTING STEWARDS

P.N. Reynolds, A. Byrne, L. McFerran, P. Law, P.D. Matthews

HORSE TO FOLLOW

LUNDY (A.P. O’Brien): This Fastnet Rock colt ran a very pleasing race to chase home stablemate Caravaggio in the two-year-old maiden where he finished five and a half lengths clear of the remainder. He shouldn’t be long in making his mark.

Two-day ban

Gary Carroll picked up a two-day ban for careless riding on Togoville in the sprint handicap won by Ardhoomey.