< Ave took the honours for Sir Michael Stoute and Richard Mullen in the Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies Stakes at Gowran Park.
The sole British raider in the Group Three heat was held up in the early stages before being unleashed two furlongs out to produce a winning run.
Ave (11-4) quickly built up a healthy lead and went on to score by a length and a half from Choose Me with Rose Hip another length and a half back in third.< Alakhan finally showed some of what he does at home on the racetrack when scoring for the first time in the Gowran Park Golf & Leisure Maiden.
Trainer John Oxx said of the 11-4 favourite: "Alakhan works really well at home and if I was a gambling man, I would have lost my shirt on him on previous runs!
"He really only gets seven furlongs or a mile and takes after his dam's pedigree in that respect. He likes fast ground and will probably go for a handicap next, maybe at Dundalk."< Maurice Utrillo initiated a double for Aidan O'Brien and Seamie Heffernan when taking the Gowran Racing Festival Next Weekend Handicap.
The 8-1 chance found plenty for pressure to score by half a length from Penthesilea Eile
Heffernan made it two courtesy of the potentially useful Jan Vermeer (2-1) in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden.
The Montjeu colt made all, and his rider said: "Jan Vermeer won well and I liked his attitude.
"He had a nice run at the Curragh on his debut, and while he obviously has to come forward from this, he is giving all the right vibes."< Cape Vintage was a 20-1 surprise in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap, while Ronan Whelan, 16, had his claim reduced to 7lb when partnering his third winner on the Jim Bolger-trained Atasari in the ITBA (South East Region) EBF Premier Nursery.
