TRAINER Andrew Slattery sent out two winners within just over half an hour of each other at Limerick on Saturday evening.

Independent Expert justified 9/4 favouritism when getting up close home to land the Limerick Racecourse Fillies & Mares Handicap by a nose.

Carrying the colours of the Kevin Sean Tommy Walsh Partnership, the four-year-old was successful under the trainer’s son, Andrew.

The winning trainer’s brother Brian Slattery represented the Co Tipperary stable and he said: “I thought Andrew had her back too far but he said ‘no, that’s the way to ride her’. He gave her a great ride.

“I rang the lads at home who were watching the race on TV and they were confident she had won but I wasn’t so sure.

“She is in at the Curragh on Derby weekend in a €100,000 fillies’ handicap, so we’ll see how she comes out of today.”

Khafaaq completed the brace when keeping on strongly under Cian Horgan to win the Follow Limerick Racecourse On Twitter Handicap.

The 9/1 chance, who races for the Eight Star Syndicate, had a length and a half in hand on runner up Breezy Zoff.

“Khafaaq seems rejuvenated and he ran a cracker in a claimer the last day when he was in to be claimed for €8,000 but, fortunately, he wasn’t bought,” said the trainer’s brother Brian Slattery.

Saturn shines

Donagh O’Connor and Ken Condon teamed up to win the Woodlands House Hotel Adare Handicap with Saturn Seven.

Making her first start in handicap company, the Aprilis Partnership-owned 5/1 chance quickened up smartly to hold the late challenge of Sir John Monash by half a length.

Condon said: “She ran well here first time out and had run well in five maidens but was falling short. She has been rewarded for her consistency, though, and was due her turn.

“We thought the handicapper had given her a reasonable mark but in their first run in a handicap you are never entirely sure.

“We’ll look for something similar next and maybe a fillies’ handicap. She is consistent and with those ones, you can make a plan with them - hopefully she’ll have a good season.”

ARTEMIS Jones (11/4) stepped up on two previous good runs to win the opening Party Time Maiden for Johnny Murtagh and Ben Coen.

The Yvonne Allen-owned filly was always prominent before kicking clear in the straight to score by two and a half lengths from favourite Pivotal Revive.

Assistant trainer Denis Linehan said: “She had two good runs at Dundalk during the winter and came back really strong. She had done a few bits of good work and we were confident coming here today.

“She liked the good ground - it has quickened up since yesterday and she handled it well. Hopefully she can be progressive and continues improving.”

Arwen on top

Coen’s younger brother Jake also got amongst the winners, courtesy of Lady Arwen in the Ryans Cleaning Event Specialists Handicap.

Despite her rider losing a rein, the Conor O’Dwyer-trained 3/1 joint-favourite quickened up inside the final furlong to see off Royal Pippen by half a length. The From Clare To Here Partnership-owned winner was making just her second start for O’Dwyer.

“She looked like she idled, so Jake was dead right to keep riding and he kept her going. Losing any momentum would have given the runner-up a chance,” said O’Dwyer.

“I’m delighted. I only got her two weeks before her last run at the Curragh and it was the plan of her owner [Pat Rohan, from Killaloe] to run at the Curragh.

“I didn’t know much about her but she is genuine and lovely to train. Six furlongs at the Curragh was probably a little short but seven furlongs is ideal. Thank God we found a winnable race and maybe Galway will be on the horizon now.”

BILLY Lee, who rode a winner at Ayr for Adrian Keatley earlier in the day, teamed up with trainer Michael O’Meara to land the Panoramic Restaurant At Limerick Races Maiden aboard Ethical Diamond (5/1).

The Emma Kennedy owned gelding headed Beechwood over a furlong out and stayed on strongly to win by two lengths.

Michael O’Meara said: “He is progressing. We were a bit nervous about the ground as he’d want a bit more juice in it but he quickened well on it. He stayed today’s extra distance and we’re happy with him. I didn’t think beyond today with him.”

Lee added: “The plane was slow arriving back to Ireland but I always leave things a bit tight! Unfortunately I missed an earlier ride but this makes up for it. John O’Donoghue’s horse [runner-up Beechwood] was well fancied, they liked her, and this fella quickened up well in the style of a good horse.”

Sound hits right note

Seattle Sound made all under Declan McDonagh to cause a 20/1 upset in the Private Suites At Limerick Races Handicap.

Owned and trained by Luke Comer, the lightly raced five-year-old kept galloping well to hold En Or by half a length.

Assistant trainer Jim Gorman said: “He had a little problem and that’s why he was off for a while but he came back and ran a hell of a race at Tipperary when the three-year-olds finished in front of him. He gave them lots of weight and was the first of the older horses to finish in that race.

“Tipperary brought him on a lot and he is a big galloping horse. I’d say the boss will want to go to Galway because he is a Galwayman and Declan has recommended he goes there too. He could eventually jump hurdles because he gallops, gallops, gallops.”