Mirza and Fran Berry beating My Girl Anna© Photo Healy Racing
Mirza lunged late to grab the spoils in the Listed Galtee Midsummer Sprint Stakes at Cork.
14/1 shot My Girl Anna looked set to collect after cruising into the lead two furlongs out, only to be mugged in the closing stages. Inxile took up his customary front-running position in the five furlong event but surrendered that lead at the two pole.
Mirza, who had chased the leaders, came under pressure at that point as My Girl Anna took over.
Fran Berry got a good tune from the 2/1 favourite inside the final furlong, however, and drove his mount into the lead close home for a half-length success.
The Rae Guest-trained gelding was graduating from handicap company having taken a competitive event at Newmarket just over a week ago.
"He's in great form and loves the ground," said Guest afterwards.
"His owner-breeder Chris Mills and wife Lesley had the dam Millyant and she was a good filly in her own right. She's bred some nice ones."
Guest praised the course who kept him fully informed regarding ground conditions and inspections.
"We came over on Friday but the course were very good and kept us updated so full marks to them.
"He's in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot next Saturday but we came here as Ascot can dry out very quickly. That'll probably come a bit quick now.
"The ground made all the difference to him today."
The same connections struck at the track before when Miss Anabaa landed the Group 3 Ballyogan stakes back in 2003 and Guest added:-
"We booked Fran again as he was lucky for us before."
Berry himself said about the winner:-
"He missed the start a bit but that didn't matter too much as he was into his stride quickly.
"Over two furlongs out Rory (Cleary) was going better than me but when he got the rail he finished well.
"Five furlongs is his minimum and he really needs six."
Gary Carson & Alan Magee
