TRANQUIL Lady bounced back from a comeback defeat at Navan last month to register a resounding success in the Group 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Blue Wind Stakes.

This 10-furlong affair was restricted to three-year-olds for the first time in its 22-year history, a move that struck one as unnecessary, but even had any older fillies lined up they would have been hard pressed to contain State Of Rest’s younger half-sister.

The Teme Valley-owned daughter of Australia ran a respectable fourth in the Salsabil Stakes on her comeback last month. She cruised through the race under Dylan Brown McMonagle, eased to the front well over a quarter of a mile out and readily contained Lily Pond who maintained a steady effort once headed by the winner.

At the line, Tranquil Lady had four lengths to spare while there was a further five and a half lengths back to Tosen Lydia.

“I don’t think she wants the ground too soft (it was yielding to soft) but she handled it well and Dylan gave her a lovely ride,” said Joseph O’Brien. “The Oaks is definitely a conversation we’ll have now. She popped her head up today as if she should be going there.”

Legend rules

There was also a nice effort on show in the three-year-old race for horses rated 95 or less half an hour later and Fozzy Stack’s Ruler Legend made all in a time that was around half a second slower than Tranquil Lady over the same distance.

This son of Camelot had filled the runner-up spot on his first two outings and took advantage of a nice opportunity as he justified 13/8 favouritism from the front.

Declan McDonogh’s mount finished off strongly against the stand’s side rail to defeat the 95-rated Shark Bay by five and a half lengths. The winner is owned by Far Eastern-based Boniface Ho Ka Kui.

“He likes a dig in the ground. He’s a big galloper and will probably get a mile and a half and could be an Ulster Derby horse. He’s resolute and keeps galloping,” reported the trainer.

THE day kicked off with Little Brown Bear advertising his Royal Ascot credentials with a striking effort in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over five furlongs. Aidan O’Brien’s charge lost nothing in defeat when just touched off on his debut at the Curragh last month. From an early stage of the race, Seamie Heffernan’s mount gave the impression of being in control as he took a lead off several of his rivals. When the 4/9 favourite was asked to deal with the Dundalk runner-up Alexis Zorba inside the last furlong he did so with aplomb to post a commanding three-length triumph.

“He had a lovely run first day when he was a little green and he’s come on for that. You’d have to say he’d be in the mix for Ascot. He switches off and he has loads of boot,” reflected Heffernan.

Shartash shines

Johnny Murtagh (pictured ) bagged his first winner for the Aga Khan as Shartash, who finished a place behind Little Brown Bear on his debut, came out the right side of a bobbing finish to the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race over just short of six furlongs.

The 10/11 shot moved ahead of the Balldoyle newcomer Age Of Kings around 150 yards from home but, despite looking very green, the last-named fought back well to make it a desperately tight finish that went the way of the favourite by a nose.

“I was confident that it would take a smart one to beat him. It was a bit close for comfort, the other one was battling back at the end but he’s a nice, tough colt and we’ll move him up to stakes level now,” commented Murtagh.

Batting challengers

Joe Murphy supplied a well-backed winner in the first of the day’s sprint handicaps as Iva Batt and Gary Carroll landed the Thank You Mick Scott For 60 Years Handicap over just short of five furlongs.

After starting her season with a couple of indifferent efforts the four-year-old, who carries the colours of the Iva Batt Partnership, had dropped 5lb in the weights and was fitted with first-time cheek-pieces and she was returned at 8/1 having been as big as 25/1 when betting opened.

Iva Batt made the most of her high draw to lead the stand’s side group from some way out and she maintained a strong gallop to carry the day by three and a quarter lengths from Teddy Boy and Elanora who headed the group on the far side.

THE progressive Drombeg Banner (100/30) followed up his victory in a decent handicap at Cork last month by landing the €45,000 Irish Racing Writers Handicap over just short of six furlongs.

Ken Condon’s charge had to deal with a 10lb hike in the weights for Cork but coped splendidly with a revised mark of 93. After racing on the pace, Billy Lee’s mount appeared to be in trouble when joined by the top-weight Thunder Eclipse but he rallied very well when pressed and fought on bravely to score by a short head. The son of Starspangledbanner carries the colours of Cian McAuliffe.

“I’d say five will end up being his optimum. He’s going to make into a stakes horse,” said Condon.

Another nice sprinting display came from Eddie Lynam’s Rough Diamond (6/1) in the CW Clothing Handicap over just short of six furlongs.

The Trevor Dalzell-owned gelding travelled easily through the race and he took charge for Shane Crosse inside the last couple of furlongs to defeat Earls by just over two lengths. “There is a huge draw bias here, he was high and Teddy Boy who was second earlier was low. You need to be down this side (stand’s side),” stated Lynam.

Dermot Weld’s Ezine (4/6) built on a pleasing debut second to Tuesday here in late March by landing the seven-furlong fillies’ maiden under Chris Hayes.

The Juddmonte-owned winner made most of the running and looked to have this race in safe keeping from around two furlongs out but she needed the line badly late on as the 25/1 chance Solar Breeze closed to within a short head at the line.