PERSISTENT rain throughout the day turned early morning good ground to soft before racing but that proved no problem to Copacabana Sands who followed up a listed win at Naas last month by landing the Group 3 Barberstown Castle Stakes in fine style.

The 11-runner field spread out across the track in the straight and Wayne Lordan had to switch right on Copacabana Sands over a furlong out to get a clear run. The 11/2 chance, available at 10/1 earlier in the day, soon quickened impressively and kept on strongly inside the final 100 yards to beat Easy by a length and three quarters with Zodiac Bear in third.