< Red Persian came with a withering late run to get off the mark in the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Race at Leopardstown.< Bella Figura and Rufus King disputed the lead and went clear in the straight, with the race seemingly between them.
They may have cut each other's throats, though, because they began to tread water in the final half-furlong and were swamped by Red Persian (5-2) and Hyperlapse with the Patrick Prendergast-trained gelding gaining the verdict by a neck.
Jockey Kevin Manning followed up when Theobald made a successful debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
There was a good word for Jim Bolger's Teofilo colt and the 11-10 favourite didn't disappoint, seeing off a Ballydoyle trio that was headed by Berkeley Square by two and a half lengths.
Manning went on to complete a treble on the Bolger-trained New Direction in the Manguard Plus Handicap.
The 4-1 shot was a disappointing favourite in testing conditions at the Curragh just under two weeks ago but bounced right back to his best form in handing out a two-and-a-half-length beating to Song Of Namibia < Xenobia was only fifth when fancied for her recent Naas comeback but stepped forward from that to land the Leopardstown Median Auction Maiden.
The 7-4 favourite took a while to master leader Aljunood but eventually got on top and pulled three and a quarter lengths clear.< Jet Streaming (4-1), who holds a Group Two engagement, made a successful first foray outside of maiden company, sprinting away with the Hamsandwich Apprentice Handicap with an impressive change of gear.< Little Clarinet (4-1) hit the front a furlong from the finish and then held off the late thrust of Hunaina to claim top honours in the Korea Racing Authority Handicap, while Eight And Bob made every post a winning one in the Leopardstown Members Handicap.
