The featured Woodlands Stakes provided a thrilling finish at the Victor Chandler sponsored meeting in Naas, with Abunawwas just edging out British-raider Millybaa in a blanket finish.
Moon Unit looked like holding on in front but could find no extra in the final strides as Abunawwas stuck his head down on the line for Declan McDonogh to touch off the Rae Guest-trained Millybaa by a short-head. Moon Unit was a head back in third, with the fast-finishing One Won One a short-head further away in fourth.
'He'll probably go for the same Group 3 race (Ballycorus Stakes) he won at Leopardstown last year, and we may go to France as he should get a mile on a round track,' said trainer Kevin Prendergast.
Prendergast and McDonogh later doubled up with Queen Of Palms in the mile fillies maiden, going clear over a furlong out to beat Desert Gold by two and a half lengths.
Easiest winner of the evening was certainly Cairdeas in the ten furlongs maiden, the second leg of a double for Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen. The son of Darshaan was sent off the 1/4 favourite but justified those odds in style by cruising to the front a furlong out before quickly stretching clear to beat Crested Pochard by an effortless four lengths.
'That was very pleasing and the Gallinule Stakes (at the Curragh on May 23) is the logical progression for him. He is still immature and has a lot of physical improvement to make. When he fills into his frame, he could be a very good horse,' said Weld.
Man O World got off the mark at the third attempt in the juvenile maiden, drawing clear inside the final furlong under Smullen to beat the odds-on Lord Nelson by four and a half lengths. 'He's progressed with each run, and improved over the extra furlong,' said Weld before adding, 'He's a tough genuine colt, and did his job.'
Athlumney Lad and Michael Kinane scored for the second time this week in the ten furlongs handicap, coming from off the pace to beat Valentina Guest by a length and a half. Trainer Noel Meade was full of praise for Kinane afterwards saying, 'Isn't he just a genius. He must have a time machine in his head. We'll give this horse a couple of weeks, and he'll stick to the Flat for the moment.'
P J McDonald (21), from Wexford, partnered his third winner when top-weight Cupid's Bow kept on gamely for a head verdict over Signora Rossa in the latest leg of the Derrinstown Stud apprentice series.
There was a nasty incident half a mile out when Clare Rose slipped up and brought down Giles, Rathgowney Lad and morning price gamble Wishes Or Watches. Giles' rider Derek Stamp has been stood down for 21 days with severe concussion, although he did later regain consciousness at Naas Hospital.
Artistic Belle was produced with a well-timed challenge by Wayne Lordan in the six furlongs handicap, striking the front inside the final furlong to beat Mrs St George by three quarters of a length.
Alan Magee
