Feature event at The Curragh today was the E80,000 Group 3 C.L. Weld Park Stakes which saw trainer Kevin Prendergast and stable jockey Declan McDonogh complete a 12/1 double with Ugo Fire.
Ugo Fire, second in the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes last month and having her ninth run of her juvenile year, battled well when push came to shove inside the final furlong, eventually staying on well to defeat Abigail Pett by three parts of a length.
Prendergast later commented 'she loves the ease in the ground but is now finished for the season. She will return next year with the Athasi Stakes and 1000 Guineas as her targets.'
Prendergast had earlier trained Taqseem to win the opening Bank Of Ireland Business Banking EBF Maiden.
The son of Fantastic Light raced prominently before moving through to leading one furlong out, staying on well to beat 28 rivals by a length and a half and more.
Afterwards Prendergast reported 'Taqseem had been gelded since he ran at Tralee last time and will now go for a nursery.'
Michael Halford's brilliant season continues and the Curragh trainer made it winner number 48 not out following another double.
The second winner of Halford's brace was more notable with Golden Cross, under John Murtagh, proving a fine training achievement to win in the Mongey Communications Handicap.
Formerly a good hurdler, 6yo Golden Cross was making his reappearance from injury following a layoff stretching back to the 2004 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle.
Halford's first winner was a 29th win of the season for jockey Rory Cleary, who guided Sanfrancullinan to a comfortable length and a half success in the Audrey & Eithne Brabazon Memorial Handicap.
Sanfrancullinan tracked the leaders before moving through to lead inside the final furlong for to a comfortable length and a half success over Bricks And Porter.
The Listed Cill Dara Securities Diamond Stakes proved a benefit race for bookmakers with none of the fancied horses figuring at the finish, in a race won by 20/1 shot The Carbon Unit, trained by Con Collins.
Collins' stable jockey Pat Shanahan was on board Dermot Weld's 5/4 favourite Cairdeas in the race while Wayne Lordan took the ride on the 89 rated The Carbon Unit.
The Carbon Unit made good progress in the straight and stayed on strongly to deny 16/1 shot Liss Ard by three parts of a length.
Trainer Ger Lyons provided apprentice jockey Derek McCormack with his first winner, on In Theory, in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap.
Eighteen year old McCormack, from Athlone and based with Harry Rogers, gave In Theory a well judged ride, progressing from mid division to lead a furlong out, to hold Danzelline by a neck.
