YASHIN has his connections dreaming of the Melbourne Cup after flashing home to grab victory at the line in the Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes at Leopardstown last Friday night.

Emily Dickinson was sent to post a 2/5 shot in the Group 3 contest but failed to fire as she gave way inside the final furlong after making most of the running. Point King came to take it up from the favourite in the one-mile-six-furlong event but was pipped at the post as Shane Foley conjured a late burst from the Jessica Harrington-trained Yashin.

The Churchill gelding, a 14/1 shot, was making his first foray into stakes company and his trainer said afterwards: “He stays well and he has to have good ground. We think he likes going left handed as well.

“He was stuck wide there and keen all the way. Shane said he had no right to pick up and win like he did. I know it was only a short head but he was always getting there.”

Kate Harrington added: “We could have waited for the Group 3 at the Curragh next week but when the ground was good here, the way he likes it, that was key.

“He could go to the Curragh Cup on Oaks weekend. We’ll plot a plan as he likes a bit of time between his races.

“The Melbourne Cup is Gerry’s (Byrne, owner) dream. He bred him and it’s the first horse he’s bred, the mare is back in foal to Churchill.”

It proved another good day for that Coolmore sire as he also struck with the well-named Winston Spencer in the earlier Irish EBF Median Auction Maiden.

Noel Meade’s charge attracted support from 14/1 into 15/2 and came with a strong run inside the final furlong to record a half-length win under Leigh Roche.

Meade trains the winner for the London Racing 4 Partnership and he said afterwards: “I like him a lot. He ran well the first day, he just got tired. I thought he had come on a good bit and I think he’ll come on a good bit again. I think he’s a decent horse.

“He’s a very well-bred horse, Coolmore bred him. His dam is a full-sister to Danehill Dancer. I’ve sort of put my life on Churchill as I bought five two-year-olds by him and I’ve got four three-year-olds. Hopefully he comes right for me.”

Quick double

Roche went on to complete a quick double himself when landing the following Monkstown Handicap on Chavajod.

The Toronado gelding was making his first outing for trainer Denis Coakley and swooped down the outer to lead a furlong from home, recording a convincing two-length success at odds of 40/1.

“That’s brilliant, we only have him about six or seven weeks,” said Coakley. “Johnny Murtagh did all the work and I only had to freshen him up and sweeten him up. Riding out on his own every day seems to have done the trick. He was going well at home and I was fairly confident.

“We backed him at 50/1 and I was saying to the lads that you just have to have a small each-way bet and it will pay well.”

Deepone scores impressively

STUDY Of Man got off the mark as a sire when Deepone ran out an impressive winner of the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

The Paddy Twomey-trained colt was a well supported 3/1 favourite (10/1 in morning) and quickened up smartly to get the job done. Billy Lee produced his mount to lead inside the final furlong and record a cosy two-and-a-half length success over Instant Appeal.

“He’s a nice colt and he was ready to start today. Being drawn 17 I thought that he’d have to be good to win from out there and it was great that he did,” said Twomey.

“He’s a nicely bred horse, he’s a Study Of Man who was a very good racehorse and a very well-bred horse, out of a Galileo mare whose dam won the Yorkshire Oaks.

“It’s great to have Vimal (Khosla) as an owner, it’s my first runner for him. We bought the horse at the sales.”

When asked if the winner could go to Ascot he added: “We’ll see how he is, there is a race there that might suit him. I haven’t thought past today but if that happens, great.”

Justified

In the concluding fillies’ maiden on the card, over a mile and a half, Shamida justified her short price to open her account.

The Dermot Weld-trained filly had been placed on two previous outings and went to post an even-money shot to get her head in front this time.

Chris Hayes, in the Aga Khan colours, drove his mount into the lead inside the final furlong and she was always doing enough to score by half a length from Scarlett O’Hara.

“I think it was a very good maiden. Ryan (Moore on Water Nymph) brought them some gallop and I think you’ll see a lot of winners coming out of that race,” said Weld. “I was very pleased with our filly, she’s progressive and hopefully we can go on and get some black-type with her next time.”

Burren continues on Song

ANDY Slattery has his team in fine form and Burren Song completed a hat-trick when claiming the Women’s Irish Network Lady Riders Handicap under Amy Jo Hayes.

The 7/2 shot was always prominent, leading shortly after halfway, and kept on well in the closing stages to hold the run of Nibiru by half a length.

“He likes to be let stride along like that, we were probably riding him wrong by holding him up,” said Slattery, who trains the winner for Patrick McNamara.

“Whether the handicapper will have him caught now, I don’t know. The good thing is that he doesn’t win by too far. He’s progressing all the time and we have plenty of options, he’s loving his racing and he’s in a good place.”

In the preceding apprentice handicap over the same trip Magnetic North bounced back to form to score for Ado McGuinness and Adam Caffrey.

The 18/1 shot led turning for home and asserted early in the straight to record a two-and-a-quarter length win in the colours of Dooley Thoroughbreds.

“I think the ground is the key factor,” said McGuinness. “We weren’t going to run him but I just felt that this track would suit and the trip as well.

“He’s the type of horse that will come out some days and run a really good race and other days he’ll let you down.”

Earlier on the card stamina won the day for Musical Rhapsody as she lunged late in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap for owners Helen and Mark Keaveney.

Gary Carroll got a good tune from the 10/1 shot late on as the Gavin Cromwell-trained filly got up close home to beat Signora Bellissima by half a length.

“When I got into the straight the gaps came and I loved the way she hit the line,” said the winning rider. “She does stay further and galloped out really well. She’s very tough and tries very hard so it’s great.”