Mullins & McCullagh take the opener with Mia

Newcomer Mia Mento just held off the late surge of the 6/4 favourite Tiple in the opener at Leopardstown, the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Maiden.

Bought for E30,000 at Goffs last September, the Tom Mullins trained filly was sent off at 14/1 (from 16s) in the colours of his wife Helen.

Settled behind the leaders by Niall McCullagh, she came with her challenge on the outer from the two furlong pole, and was pushed along to lead with over a furlong to race.

She was ridden out inside the final furlong, just holding off the effort of Tiple and Chris Hayes by a short head.

The front pair went three and a quarter lengths clear of Vhagar (11/2 to 9/2) in third, with Donnacha O'Brien aboard this colt for his brother Joseph.

"She's never put a foot wrong since we've got her," said Mullins.

"She's been very professional every day and she does exactly what it says on the tin.

"I wasn't 100 percent happy coming here but she's a six-furlong filly and had to come here. It's one of the Foran Auction races and I said 'to hell with it I'll come here'.

"She got tired in the end but was entitled to. She nearly has half the money that I bought her for. She's a nice filly.

"She'll probably want a month looking at her but it depends on what way she takes that. She probably ended up getting a hard race in the end being in front for so long.

"We won't be in a rush back anywhere for a while. I have a fancy entry for her (in the Phoenix Stakes) but it's only three weeks away so I don't know if she'll make that or not."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson