Chris Hayes struck a vital blow in his bid for the apprentice title when successfully partnering Cliffs Of Duneen in the two-year-old auction maiden.
The Tom McCourt-trained filly traveled strongly to lead just under a furlong out, and was driven right out to hold the Rory Cleary-ridden Polar Fox by 3/4L.
The Limerick teenager is now five ahead of Cleary in the apprentice championship on the 37 winner mark, and is a long odds-on favourite for the title with just four more Flat racings days left.
Hayes and Martin Lane were both later stood down for 48 hours with stiff necks after falls, and went to Navan Hospital for routine x-rays.
Emmet Butterly is a strong contender for 'apprentice find of the year' and he notched up his 13th success of the campaign aboard Ballmary Lady in the sprint handicap.
Trainer Cecil Ross is much better known for his jumpers and reckons this was his first victory on the Flat since 'Princess Grand won four races about 20 years ago'.
'This filly just didn't run her race at Fairyhouse last Saturday but was previously beaten only about two lengths over this course and distance,' added Ross.
Another apprentice seen to good effect was Warren Cafferty as top-weight Victram landed the ten furlong handicap for the second successive year.
Cafferty's claim will be reduced to 7lb after this third win as he brought the five-year-old dual purpose gelding from last to first in the straight to beat Fire Finch by two lengths.
'He has loads of toe in that type of ground, and Warren gave him a very good ride. He'll go now for the Stanleybet/William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Down Royal on Saturday week,' said trainer Adrian McGuinness.
Pat Smullen partnered his first winner since returning last weekend from a lengthy suspension when Lavender Rose just got the better of a final furlong battle with Celtic Warrior in the mile nursery.
Smullen is assured of a third Flat jockeys championship and this win for boss Dermot Weld brought his tally for the season to 67.
'She is a game and true filly but I was afraid she might have had a bit too much weight. She's in the Goffs Sales on Friday but is likely to be kept,' said Weld.
Aidan O'Brien and Seamus Heffernan teamed up to take both divisions of the two-year-old maiden with short-priced favourites Tusculum and Mountain.
Tasculum didn't look the easiest of rides in division one, carrying his head high and veering about before beating Nocturnal Knight by a length and a half.
Mountain also needed plenty of assistance from Heffernan, extracted from a pocket on the far rail inside the final quarter mile before stretching out well in the closing stages to beat Ditzy Chick by 2 1/2L.
Mister Hight looks an exciting recruit for jumping after the gelding readily landed odds of 9/10 under Pat Shanahan in the ten furlongs winners race.
'I was happy that he settled better today, and he'll be entered for a Listed race on the Flat at Leopardstown. He then goes jumping and has schooled well,' said Mullins.
Maria Luisa finally opened her account at Cork earlier this month and followed up in good fashion under Padraig Beggy in the mile handicap, produced with a well-timed challenge to beat Bay Boy by 1 1/2L.
'She seems to be getting the hang of it, likes the ground and needs to arrive late. She's in the sales at Newmarket,' said trainer Kevin Prendergast.
Alan Magee
