AIDAN O’Brien’s Galleria Borghese (12/1) made a winning start at stakes level when she landed the feature Listed Al Shira’aa Racing EBF Naas Oaks Trial at Naas on Wednesday.

Bred by O’Brien’s wife Ann Marie, the Caravaggio filly had finished second in a conditions’ race at Limerick on Friday, and was well-backed here - 20/1 into 12/1.

In the 10-furlong contest, she made most of the running under jockey Wayne Lordan and held Alizarine by half a length.

“She’s been coming forward all year, improving from run to run,” Lordan reported. “Her last run in Limerick was a good step forward and she made the step up again today.

“She has been strengthening up all year and we felt it was time to step up to a mile and a quarter and she got it well. She tries hard, is improving and getting strong. I’m sure the boss will be happy as they bred her as well.”

Double

Lordan had earlier won the Celebrating Tinnakill House At 20 Maiden on the Willie Browne-trained De Velara (7/2), who was scoring on his second Irish start.

Following the race, well-known breeze-up consignor Browne said: “We thought a lot of him last year and sent him over to France to be trained because he had the premiums, but it didn’t work out. He was placed a few times but we’ll have to blame the French trainer!

“The owner (John McNally) is not a seller and likes his horses so hopefully there is a dream there now. He came on well from the run in Cork and I’d imagine he’ll go for a good handicap.”

JOSEPH O’Brien also completed a double as he book-ended the card with Excelia in the Ground Investigations Irish EBF Maiden and 40/1 chance Didn’thavemuchtodo in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Maiden.

Excelia, for owners Healthy Wood Co Limited, benefitted from a positive ride from 7lb claimer Hugh Horgan in winning the opener, with O’Brien later praising the jockey, saying: “I thought Hugh gave her a great ride - he got to the front and when she got a little unbalanced, he put his stick down and held her together. She put her experience to good use.

“She could go to Tipperary for a listed race next week and we’ll try and get some blacktype. She’s a quick filly and has done nothing wrong.”

O’Brien’s J.P. McManus-owned Didn’thavemuchtodo was the shock winner of the last race, under jockey Declan McDonogh, scoring on her third run, having beaten just five horses home previously.

The daughter of Highland Reel arrived from off the pace to score with ears pricked, and afterwards the trainer’s representative Brendan Powell reported: “Declan said he liked her in Listowel and came there over a furlong out with a chance.

“Today she was on the ball. He dropped her in and she quickened up like a smart filly. She’s tough and loves the fast ground.”

LUKE McAteer was another to complete a double, steering winners with Jazzy Dancer and Level Pitch.

Jazzy Dancer (14/1) made all for a two-and-a-quarter-length win over Teddy Boy in the Gannon Office Solutions Handicap and provided owner/trainer Willie Martin with a first win since Time Stands Still’s Cork success in August 2020.

Afterwards his son and assistant Mick Martin said: “We had a virus for the last couple of years but lately they have all started to fire. The way he did that, hopefully he can win again.

“I was a little bit concerned the ground would be too quick for him but Luke said he gave him a kick at the two pole and he was gone.

“He’s a half-brother to a horse in England called Dapper Man who I sold as a foal and has won 14 times, all over five (furlongs).”

McAteer doubled up in the Summer BBQ By Lily & Wild Apprentice Handicap with the Jackie Bolger-owned, Jim Bolger-trained and -bred Level Pitch (6/1). Bolger’s travelling head man Ger Flynn reported: “He won well at Cork and was then a bit unlucky at Gowran Park. We then gave him a little bit of a break and his run the last day in Leopardstown was good.

“Luke said he thought they would go a lot faster today but they didn’t and he was trapped out wider than he wanted to be. Once he got him balanced up the straight he went away well in the end.

“He’s in on Friday (at the Curragh) again and is entered in the sales next month.”

Good form

Jessica Harrington’s good recent form continued with a success for Sablonne (7/1) in the ARKequine Derbymed Handicap, scoring for jockey Shane Foley and owner Kirsten Rausing.

Harrington reported: “She was a bit ring rusty in the Curragh and those sprinters have to be sharp. She was sharp out of the stalls today and when the other horse (Andreas Vesalius) came to her she stayed on great.

“She has a super attitude. She’ll probably go for another handicap and then I’d like to get some blacktype with her.”