Khyber Pass got the better of Jouster at Dundalk© Photo Healy Racing
Connections and backers of short-priced favourite, Ahimsa will be hoping to quickly commit the opening www.dundalkstadium.com Rated Race to memory as the Holy Roman Emperor filly had to pull up. Khyber Pass was the one to grab the opportunity, getting off the mark on attempt number nine for Eddie Lynam and Wayne Lordan.
From halfway Joseph O'Brien was having trouble securing a trouble-free passage on Ahimsa. The fortunes of the market-leader did not improve up the straight and the O'Brien-owned, trained and bred four-year-old appeared to have 'gone-wrong' before pulling up inside the last.
Second in the betting, Khyber Pass wasn't without friends 'in the ring,' returning at 9/2 and he got the better of the front-runner, Jouster in the closing stages, to score by a length. Sixty six to one shot, Elusive Gent (eye-shields may have helped) ran a huge race to finish a close-up third.
Eddie Lynam expressed concern for Ahimsa afterwards, saying: "Unfortunately the favourite seems to be injured but I think our fellow deserved to win a race.
"He got touched off and ran well here a few times. It'll help to keep the owner happy (his wife Aileen)."
Emmet McNamara got a one day careless riding ban for his effort on sixth home, Foot Perfect (AM & EM)
