Ger Lyons' Rockazar won the E25,000 Summer Barbeque Evenings Handicap
off a career high rating of 81, providing jockey Tadgh O'Shea with the opening leg of a double, at Naas today.
Rockazar made steady headway in the straight to eventually get to the front a furlong out, keeping on well under pressure for a half length win over Bay Boy.
Afterwards a delighted Lyons reported 'that's his fourth win and he
is a really honest and tough sort; the strong gallop helped him a lot
today.'
O'Shea later partnered Dafaroun to win the Go Racing In Kildare Handicap, for Headford, Co Galway trainer Martin O'Toole.
Feature event was the five furlong Listed Woodlands Stakes which went
to Harry Rogers' 106 rated Moon Unit, under recently returned to
Ireland Willie Supple.
Already once a Group 3 winner and three times successful at Listed
level, the daughter of Intikhab again showed plenty of speed in what
looked a competitive event.
Despite being slowly into stride, Moon Unit made good headway from
halfway to lead inside the final furlong, eventually winning by one
length over Dandy Man.
Best performance of the day was possibly Kevin Prendergast's newcomer
Brazilian Bride's win in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
Ridden by Declan McDonogh, Brazilian Bride showed all the right qualities when drawing clear of her rivals over one furlong out, keeping up the gallop for an impressive eight lengths win over Siobhans Pearl.
Afterwards McDonogh reported 'she couldn't have been any more impressive and didn't look around at anything; she'll appreciate better ground and should stay further.'
The opening Naas Median Auction Maiden went to Dermot Weld's Baynes Cross, under Pat Smullen.
Baynes Cross, a son of Namid, made most of the running, and although headed over 2f out, rallied to gain a slight advantage near the finish, for a short head win over newcomer Diyla.
Promising apprentice jockey Jamie Moriarty partnered his first winner of the new season when guiding Akeydah to win the www.naasracecourse.com Handicap for local trainer James Leavy.
Moriarty held the daughter of Selkirk up, before making progress in the straight, eventually getting to the front a furlong out, staying on well for a three parts of a length win over staying on Another Jayjay.
