Kabjoy and Conor Hoban (5) beat Red Raven© Photo Healy Racing
< Kabjoy ended a frustrating sequence of second placings by getting the better of Red Raven in a thrilling finish to the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Limerick.
Runner-up at Sligo, Roscommon and the Curragh on her last three starts, Jessie Harrington's charge was sent off an 11-4 shot and appeared to be booked for the same slot as she was off the bridle some way out as the odds-on Red Raven travelled along sweetly in front of her.
The favourite, making her seasonal bow, cruised into the lead a furlong and a half out with Chris Hayes looking ultra-confident, but Kabjoy soon delivered a challenge and as they duelled through the closing stages she kept on finding to score by a head under Conor Hoban.
Dermot Weld's three-year-old Stay De Night was sent off the 4-5 favourite on his debut in the Croom House Stud Maiden and gave his supporters no cause for worry once Pat Smullen had got him into a handy position after a tardy start.
The son of Shamardal, racing in the familiar Moyglare Stud colours, cruised up to the leader Kodiac's Back going to the furlong pole and soon quickened away to win by two and three-quarter lengths from Bad News Bear without being asked a question.
Seamie Heffernan settled the Aidan O'Brien-trained Toscanelli (8-13 favourite) in second in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden before encouraging him to power past Soebroto a furlong and a half out for a comfortable victory by two and three-quarter lengths.
The Ballydoyle yard doubled up when Marchese Marconi (4-5 favourite) led a quarter of a mile out under Sarah O'Brien and stayed on well to take the Derek Ryan 24th July (QR) Race by three lengths.< In Salutem (9-2) made just about all under Shane Foley in the limerickraces.ie Handicap and rallied to beat Knights Templar by a head, while Billy Lee got 7-2 favourite Hatton Cross home by a short head from Count Of Carabass in the Ballyduane Stud Handicap.
