Eddie Ahern won the Goffs £100,000 Challenge for the second year in a row at the Curragh this evening as Berlin made an impressive debut.
Bought for £36,000 as a yearling by trainer Eddie Lynam, Berlin landed some tidy wagers (12-1 to 10-1) as he went clear of Mowassel in the closing stages to take the prize and book a possible trip to York.
"This is a proper horse and he could run in something like the Gimcrack Stakes at York. We have had little problems with him but perseverance has paid off," said trainer Lynam.
Ahern was always travelling strongly on the son of Common Grounds, hit the front just under two furlongs out and was always too quick for Mowassel in the hands of visiting Australian Damien Oliver.
"Berlin had a touch of sore shins and then a back problem which explains why he only started for the first time tonight.
"But it would have taken a very good horse to pass him here," added Lynam who trains the horse for long-standing owner Richie Behan.
The principals went right away in the final furlong, as the third-home Elbader was beaten a total of nine lengths by the winner with Jamie Osborne's Pounce doing best of the British raiders back in fourth.
Ahern had earlier given the bookmakers plenty to cheer about in the Derby Festival Maiden when 20-1 chance Mick My Mongrello also made a winning debut, this time for local trainer Eddie Butler.
It was only in the dying strides that Ahern's mount snatched victory from Step with Style (11-2) with odds-on favourite D'Anjou third.
However, D'Anjou's trainer John Oxx had come out on the right side of the photo-finish in the opening of Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Derby as 8-1 chance Alaya got up late to score in the hands of Norman Williamson's second cousin Mary Williamson.
