Weighing room veteran Mick Kinane denied young Joseph O'Brien a second win on just his third ride in public when taking the fairyhouseracecourse.ie Handicap on John Oxx's Adjaliya
The market proved the best guide as the well-backed 9-10 favourite was three-quarters of a length to the good over Liszt at the line, although O'Brien got a brave rally from his mount and was coming back at the line after setting out to make most on the 5-2 chance, trained by his father, Aidan.
Oxx said: "She stays well as she is bred to. She'll take on older horses next time in a handicap. She is rated 83 and she has a long way to go to make a stakes horse."
O'Brien senior's Emperor Claudius improved a fair bit from his debut third at Leopardstown to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Maiden in the manner of a colt likely to achieve better things.
Ridden by Johnny Murtagh, the beautifully-bred 4-5 favourite saw off the challenge of Ger Lyons' Bankrobber to score by two and a half lengths.
Lyons had better luck in the following Ballybin Handicap as Tarrsille proved most game in front, with the 6-1 chance holding the late thrust of Bangalore Gold by a head.
Lyons said: "He probably goes better the other way round. He needed the blinkers and Emmet (McNamara) did well to make the running from that draw."
Murtagh followed up when Mick Halford's Magic Mornings - part-owned by the rider's wife, Orla - saw off the Dermot Weld newcomer Grandiflora (2-1 favourite) by half a length in the Fairyhouse Summer Series Maiden.
Halford said of the 11-4 winner: "She ran well last year and deserved to win this. She was fit and well and her experience helped her.
"It was great to get Johnny to ride her. She'll probably go for a fillies handicap on Derby weekend."
The 20% On Line Ticket Discount Handicap also turned into a family affair as 5lb claimer Danny Mullins steered The Last Stand (8-1) home for his father Tony, who said: "The winning owners, the Paleface Sioux Syndicate are from Athlone. This horse likes an easy finish on fast grou
