A thrilling finish to the Dark Angel EBF Sweet Mimosa Stakes resulted in a 12-1 winner for Aidan and Joseph O'Brien as Empowering took the spoils at Naas.
Runner-up to Katla in this six-furlong Listed race 12 months ago, the four-year-old was never far off the early pace set by Caprella
The leader looked to have done enough until deep inside the final furlong when O'Brien-trained stablemates Empowering and After both challenged.
It was Empowering who held a half-length advantage over Caprella as they flashed past the post, with After's run coming all too late.
The O'Brien team notched a rather more predictable success as 2-5 favourite Learn won the Michael Higgins & Co. Race.< Lady Gosford (9-4 favourite) relished a drop to the minimum trip when breaking her duck in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
Edward Lynam's filly burst to the front around half a furlong from home and only had to be kept up to her work by the in-form Shane Foley to see off Spinacre by a length and three quarters.
Lynam went on to saddle the one-two in the Brady Family Real Ham Supporting Naas Hurling Maiden, with apparent second-string Vale Of Clara (14-1) beating favourite Regal Power
The winner was held up by Fran Berry through the early parts of the six-furlong heat, but arrived on the scene travelling strongly entering the final furlong.
She smoothly swpet past her stable companion to collect the prize by three and a quarter-lengths.< Ucanchoose ran away with the KC Civils Supporting Naas Hurling Handicap after Declan McDonogh sent him on over two furlongs out.
The Andrew Slattery-trained 14-1 chance had a commanding lead entering the fifth and final furlong and although market leader Stones Peak closed to within three and a quarter-lengths, he simply could not live with the rejuvenated winner.
