Dolce Strega got up close home to land the Group 3 Canford Cliffs EBF Athasi Stakes under Billy Lee for Willie McCreery and owner/breeder Renzo Forni.

The three-year-old daughter of Zoffany won her maiden at Tipperary last August, and finished just half a length second to Best In The World in a Listed race at the Curragh in October.

She won on her return to action at Dundalk last month, and having opened at 8/1 last night she touched 5's on-course before going off a 9/2 chance.

Settled in midfield, she was poised behind the leaders two furlongs out.

She was ridden to challenge on the outer from the furlong pole, getting up in the closing stages to prevail by a neck. Steip Amach who attempted to make all, had to settle for second under Kevin Manning for Jim Bolger at 6/1. Ainippe was sent off the 8/11 favourite and she finished a further length and a quarter back in third on her seasonal debut.

Willie McCreery, who had a double at Sligo yesterday, said afterwards: "I'm a clever lad now! When I went up to Dundalk I thought she was thrown in so if she had been beat I would have looked a right eejit. But she was able to come on here and it all worked out.

"She's tough and strengthened up a lot of the winter, although she hasn't grown.

"Billy gave her a brave ride. He got caught in a pocket and I wasn't sure he would get there.

“The owners bred her so I'm delighted for them.

"She got a mile last year when she was second in a Listed race here. Seven or a mile suits as she travels so well and is a very good moving filly."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson