The Rae Guest-trained Miss Anabaa survived a stewards enquiry to land the Group 3 Kerry Group Ballyogan Stakes at Cork yesterday, only two weeks after providing her Newmarket trainer with his first Irish success at Naas.
Fran Berry's mount looked short of room over a furlong out but the pair quickened through a slender gap to defeat Belle Du Jour and Marino Marini by a neck and half a length.
'I didn't think the gap looked too tight,' commented Guest before the result was announced. 'she's taken these two races well and will have a break before the autumn. The ground has dried out but there was enough cut in it for her today,' he added.
Grand National winner Monty's Pass made his first racecourse start since his heroic performance at Aintree in a Private Charity Sweepstakes, and the Jimmy Mangan-trained gelding thrilled his supporters by racing to victory under the trainer's wife, Mary.
Earlier, Brief Affair was an easy winner of the opening sprint handicap despite having to defy a 15lb rise in the handicap. The Gerry Stack-trained filly was always prominent before going to the front at the furlong pole and she kept on well for an easy success.
James Burns and Michael Kinane teamed up to land the Golden Olive handicap with Dancecare, who ran out a very comfortable winner after leading over a furlong out. The Danetime filly relished the drop in class having contested a Listed race at Haydock last month.
Timmy Murphy and King Carew put up a fine performance to make every yard of the running in the Dawn Smooth 'N' Juicy Handicap Chase. The pair eventually came home four lengths clear of Prince Of Pleasure and Michael Hourigan indicated that he would find a similar contest for his charge next time.
Paddy Mullins has his team in fine form at the moment and hisseven-year-old gelding, Nearly A Moose, returned to his best with a battling success in the conditions chase. Robert Power's mount looked beaten after Goldstreet went to the front after the last but he battled back to regain the lead in the dying strides.
Kitty Star and Derek O'Connor provided John Kiely with yet another Bumper winner when they held the late challenge of Share Deep in the Charleville Cheese Flat Race.
