THEY say experience is the greatest teacher in life and it was the proven Galway expertise of course stalwart Dunum, combined with the most canny of front-running rides from a vintage Seamie Heffernan, that captured a closely fought edition of the €120,000 Colm Quinn BMW Mile.

Natalia Lupini’s stable star lights up around Ballybrit like few others can and, despite a determined challenge from the Ger O’Leary-trained Bear Profit, the Galway specialist answered every call to prevail by a head in the day-two feature. It now means that from five visits to the course, Maurice Burns’ home-bred has notched a terrific three wins (including two premier handicaps) and a pair of close thirds.

Lincoln winner Orandi stayed on strongly from off the pace to be third, while 4/1 favourite Mississippi River was beaten a little over four and a quarter lengths in fifth.

“He comes alive at this track,” said Lupini.

“Seamie gave him a peach of a ride and we couldn’t have asked for any better. This horse usually jumps smart and Seamie said he wasn’t going to give away his position. He enjoyed himself and battled well towards the line.

“We couldn’t dismiss the race and the Ahonoora on Sunday. We'll see how he is at home but hopefully he'll also run back here later in the week.”

It was a first win in the race for Heffernan, who turned 53 earlier in the month but is still notching up big-money winners at premier meetings like Royal Ascot and Irish Derby weekend. The two apprentices he saw off in the finish, Nicola Burns and Jimmy Dalton, haven’t even turned 18 yet and wouldn’t have been alive for the early classic and Group 1 wins of Heffernan’s career. He still has the fire and ability to be a force at the top table when dealing with the right ammunition.

"I felt I had got a willing partner,” said the winning rider.

“He quickened up the hill and he dug deep when a challenge came. Craig [Bryson, assistant and partner of the trainer] and Natalia said he was back in form; likes an ease in the ground as he gets a bit older. He's never run a bad race at the track.”