Aidan O'Brien got off the mark for the year when African Cat battled well to score in the seven-furlong maiden at Dundalk.
Johnny Murtagh, partnering his first winner on home soil this season, got a good tune out of his mount.
The son of Storm Cat fought it out with newcomer Oscillate inside the final furlong and edged ahead close home for a head verdict.
"That's good. We'll be grand - it's a long year," said travelling head lad Pat Keating afterwards.
