Eddie Lynam landed the #100,000 Challenge Race for the second time in three years and Ahern completed the first Derby weekend double when newcomer Berlin raced to an impressive two length success at the Curragh.
A winner with Rolo Tomasi in 1998, the Clonee-based handler also won a similar contest with Tanta Margo at the Phoenix Park twelve years ago.
Eddie Ahern, who also won the race last year on Tim Easterby's Bally Pride, had little difficulty in bringing 10/1 chance Berlin home clear of Mowassel (4/1-6/1), with Elbader (7/1-9/1) a further seven lengths away third.
Pounce fared best of the cross-channel runners when finishing fourth, with Pharoah's Gold seventh and Spirit Of Song (9/4-100/30f), in respiratory distress, last home.
'He has suffered from sore shins and a sore back already this season and everyone at home has done a great job with him. He is very good and we will think about the Gimcrack at York now', said Lynam.
As expected, John Oxx got the his weekend off to a winning start, but not for the first time his stable collected with the market outsider of his two runners.
While the well supported Hariya (1/1-4/6-8/11) could only manage fifth, victory in the Apprentice Derby went to the Mary Williamson-ridden 8/1 chance Alaya.
Oxx saddled a second odds-on loser when newcomer D'Anjou (1/1-4/5) finished third behind outsider Mick My Mongrello which got up on the line under Ahern to pip Step With Style in the Derby Festival Maiden.
And the bookmakers were smiling again after the Funky Friday Handicap which went to Gerard Keane-trained/Colm O'Donoghue-ridden Sunny Slope, with Omni Cosmo Touch (5/1-7/2f) third.
Another hefty gamble went astray in the 5f Handicap when Miracle Ridge (5/1-3/1f) trailed in eighth of the nine runners behind Ger Lyons' Reptar (8/1-10/1).
Dolydille (5/1-9/1) bounced back to winning ways for Jim Bolger in the 10f Handicap and the Tommy Stack-trained Pillars Of Society scored at odds of 15/8 in the finale.
