Cougar Mountain comes home in front under Joseph O'Brien© Photo Healy Racing
< Carla Bianca gained Listed honours with a hard-fought success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Naas Oaks Trial.
Dermot Weld's filly was beaten less than a length by Australia on her debut and was fourth in the Moyglare, but she then proved disappointing until breaking her duck when upped to a mile and a quarter at Navan.
Brought to the centre of the track to make her challenge by Pat Smullen, she took up the running two furlongs from home, but Palace and Circling wouldn't go away and Carla Bianca had to pull out all the stops to prevail by three-quarters of a length.< Cougar Mountain made a sparkling introduction in the New BBQ Format At Naas Maiden.
The Fastnet Rock three-year-old hadn't previously tasted competitive action but his 8-11 starting price could be explained by his clutch of big-race entries and after racing on the outside, he quickened smartly to put the race to bed in a matter of strides, and crossed the line with five and a half lengths in hand of the 87-rated Monsieur Power < Itorio (16-1) made every post a winning one in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.
Sheila Lavery's colt hadn't shown a great deal in two previous appearances, but the penny has definitely dropped because he bounced out in front under Michael Hussey and ran right the way to the line to beat Devonshire by a length and a quarter.< Lake George had the steadier of 10st in the KC Civil Engineering Supporting Naas Hurling Handicap, but Dylan Robinson's 7lb claim made all the difference as the 5-1 joint-favourite held off the late thrust of Les Darcy by a length.
The Revamp Building And Renovations Supporting Naas Hurling Apprentice Handicap went the way of 6-1 shot Derulo and his trainer Johnny Murtagh followed up half an hour later when Dalkova took the OnePlace IT Supporting Naas Handicap.
