Dark Street and Nathan Crosse © Photo Healy Racing
Dark Street deservedly got off the mark, as he benefitted from an enterprising Nathan Crosse ride in the first divide of the irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap.
Beaten by just half-a-length and a neck in recent starts, the Luke Comer trained bay certainly wasn't winning out of turn.
Sent off a 4/1 joint-favourite under Nathan Crosse, the Estidhkaar gelding was settled towards rear early, but made good progress on the outer approaching halfway and hit the front with just less than five furlongs to go.
Ridden a furlong and a half from home, he kept up the gallop all the way to the line, with three-parts of a length the margin of victory.
.Mr Mills (22/1) finished out his race well to take second under Robbie Colgan for Chris Timmons, while Lilly Of The Glen, the other joint-favourite, was a length and three parts away in third.
Assistant trainer Jim Gorman said: "Looking at the sectionals, I'd say they were going a little bit slow and it was going to turn into a sprint. He (Nathan Crosse) didn't want that, so he took the bull by the horns and he stayed well.
"It was (a good run on his last start) and he was probably beaten by a progressive horse the last day. I really fancied him tonight and he found plenty.
"Any time you come here with six horses and leave without a winner, it is a long drive home!"
The win was a late birthday present for owner/trainer Comer, who turned 65 during the week.
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
