Gary Phillips steered Star Links to a comprehensive four lengths success in the one mile apprentice handicap at Naas.
Phillips was recommended to trainer Shane Donohoe by one of his colleagues.
Shane Donohoe said: “That’s karma for you. Dermot Weld took my jockey so I rang Ger Lyons who said he had every confidence in Gary Phillips and he gave him a peach of a ride.”
The blinkered five-year-old gelding had an SP of 16/1 (26.70 euro on the Tote). Spirit Of Xaar was three and a half lengths ahead of third-placed An Mhi (14/1).
Spirit Of Xaar was taken at 25/1 in the morning as he went off at a starting price of 9/1. Maunsells Duke was the 7/4 favourite for Dermot Weld and Shane Gray in his bid to follow up on a Galway success last week but he made no impression in the final two furlongs and finished 12th of the 14 runners.
Michael Graham
