THE diminutive Ger Lyons inmate Affogato made it two wins from as many start this season as she made short work of two highly rated opponents in thepowdercoaters.ie Race over seven furlongs.

Two months on from winning a maiden at Gowran Park, the Ray Grehan-owned three-year-old daughter of Requinto had to take on the 103-rated Ace Aussie and the 104-rated San Andreas.

Ultimately though neither could muster any response when Affogato quickened smartly from the rear to lead well over a furlong out before crossing the line with four and a quarter lengths to spare.

“She only weighs about 380 kilos, but if they all had her heart they’d all be racehorses.

“She’s a sweetheart and tries very hard so I might get blacktype with her, and we know she handles softer ground,” declared Lyons.

Daylight steps up

Daylight Come, who did an unraced stint in Hong Kong after winning at Gowran Park in September 2020, regained form in the Racing TV Handicap over just short of a mile and three-quarters.

The Jackie Bolger-owned five-year-old had struggled on his first two starts this term but he did much better last time when fourth to Mashhoor at the Curragh and appeared to relish the step up to this distance.

In a race where the runners finished at fairly long intervals, Kevin Manning’s mount led early in the straight and kept on well to defeat San Martino by a length and a quarter.

“He’s a fine big horse. It was a big-step up from a mile and a quarter last time but the boss was very confident he would stay. Kevin said he got into a beautiful rhythm and stayed on well.

“Hopefully it’s onwards and upwards,” remarked the trainer’s representative, Ger Flynn.

Storming win

The evening concluded with a winner for Pat Martin and Mikey Sheehy as Storm Steps notched up the fourth victory of his career in the 47-65 rated mile-and-a-half handicap for owner Joan Brennan.

The well-backed 13/2 shot led over a furlong out and lasted home to hold Dracho Pulchrac by three-quarters of a length.

Apache Outlaw gets verdict

FOR a brief flicker it looked as though a monster upset could be on the cards in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden over six furlongs but ultimately the odds-on Apache Outlaw (5/6) came good at the third attempt.

Trained by Joseph O’Brien for E S Racing, the Declan McDonogh-ridden son of Churchill lined up off two decent placed efforts and he travelled powerfully before moving to the front under two furlongs from home. He did drift out to his left over the course of the last furlong which gave the rallying 150/1 pace-setter Palace Gardens a chance. However, the market leader righted himself to get home by three-quarters of a length.

“Declan said he’s got loads of ability,” remarked the trainer’s representative Brendan Powell. “He’s had to kick when he did as he knows that he stays. He hung a bit the last time and he’s done it today but he’s a massive big horse and is still learning. I think the better the race the better he will be.”

Joseph O’Brien brought up a double later on, when the Shane Crosse-ridden and Lloyd Williams-owned Point King (9/4) captured the median auction maiden over a mile and a half.

On his first outing since taking fifth in a Leopardstown maiden last autumn, the 9/4 favourite had to work somewhat to get the better of the lightly raced front running five-year-old Dancila.

Point King go on top over a furlong from home and kept on well to pull four and a quarter lengths clear.

“He is a massive big horse and he took a bit of time to come to hand. He will end up being a nice stayer,” declared Brendan Powell.

Condon doubles up

IT was a good evening for Ken Condon who sent out two winners and enjoyed a one-two in an eventful 47-70 rated three-year-old six-furlong handicap which had its share of drama as a false start was declared after the outside stalls opened slightly slower than the inner set.

Due to this false start, some of the runners travelled two-thirds of the race distance, surely compromising their chances, and it was some 14 minutes before the race finally got underway. When it did so, the stalls were not operational and it began with a flag start which, under the circumstances, went quite well.

At the other end of the race the 70-rated Areille, under a typically superb Billy Lee waiting ride, came from off the pace with a powerful last-furlong charge to sweep past stablemate Jupiter Express in the final yards and succeed by half a length. The Treadstone Bloodstock-owned winner was adding to her victory in a Sligo maiden last year.

In an ensuing enquiry, the starter Joe Banahan said that he observed that the outside set of stalls had opened slower than the inside set of stalls and called a false start.

He confirmed that following a similar happening in the first race (one which the stewards felt hadn’t materially prejudiced the chances of the horses drawn from 10 to 19) being brought to his attention by the stewards, the electrical leads were changed and the stalls were checked three times, this test being recorded, and no malfunction was observed.

Tucker triumphs

No such drama accompanied Ken Condon’s second winner as Moss Tucker (5/1) notched up the third success of his career in quite a useful six-furlong handicap.

Joey Sheridan was on board the front-running top-weight who shook off the favourite, Blind Beggar, around a furlong from home before holding off Big Gossey by a neck.

The Charlie Bit Me Syndicate-owned four-year-old was triumphing off a mark of 91 and will now have premier sprint handicaps on his agenda.