Top jumps trainer Henry de Bromhead showed himself capable of handling more precocious types by sending out Gorane to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Dundalk.
A never-nearer sixth over seven furlongs on debut here recently, the two-year-old daughter of Dream Ahead showed surprising pace to race in a prominent position over a furlong shorter.
She looked in trouble when market principals Ice Canyon and Pennsylvania loomed up to challenge, but Gorane (20-1) responded to all of Declan McDonogh's urgings to keep the latter half a length at bay.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained War Secretary showed the benefit of a mid-season break to land the seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
Given time to strengthen since finishing seventh on his introduction at the Curragh's Guineas meeting, the 11-4 chance moved past leader Jock Talk over two furlongs out and stayed on to beat stable companion Homesman by three and a quarter lengths.
Michael Halford's Yamato had it all to do in the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap when virtually all of his rivals where in front of him but he came with a wet sail under Shane Foley to triumph at odds of 9-1.
His stablemate Dark Alliance only just failed here less than two weeks ago but went one better in the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Apprentice Handicap.
After being slowly away, Robert Smithers allowed the 9-2 shot time to find his feet before angling him to the centre of the track in the straight, and he wore down Stamp Of Authority to score by three-quarters of a length.
That was Smithers' second career victory, a feat matched by Danny Sheey when he got Mo Henry (9-2) home by a neck from Strategic Force in a driving finish to the Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Handicap.< Free Running (15-8) has relished the switch to the John Feane yard and backed up last month's victory on the beach at Laytown by inflicting a three-and-three-quarter-length defeat on Intense Stylist in the www.dundalkstadium.com Fillies Claiming Race.
