Gazelle D'Or and Jack Cleary© Photo Healy Racing
The Michael Grassick trained Gazelle D'or just did enough when holding on late to win the Slane Nursery Handicap at Navan.
A maiden winner over the minimum trip at Bellewstown in August, the Equiano filly had twice been beaten over 6f subsequently.
Faced with the extended 5f here, the 3/1 chance just had enough in reserve to hold the strong late run of Zambales by a short head.
Travelling easily into the race, Gazelle d'Or led over a furlong out, quickly asserting to go a length clear. However, as her stamina began to wilt inside the last 100 yards, she faced a strong late challenge.
Just getting home, the Jack Cleary ridden filly was winning in the colours of Aidan Gleeson and Michael Grassick.
Jack Cleary said: "She has done very well. The whole thing today was about just switching her off and getting her to come home good.
"She travelled lovely the whole way and, just when she got there, she just idled a small bit underneath me.
"I wasn't 100 per cent sure (if she was up) - 50/50 kind of!"
Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
