Hispanic and Seamie Heffernan far side win from Dandyville Billy Lee for trainer Aidan O Brien. © Photo Healy Racing
Hispanic proved far too strong for some tough seasoned sprinters when making all the running to land the Bar One Racing Wishing Kevin O'Hare A Happy Retirement Mourne Handicap.
Well away under Seamie Heffernan, the Aidan O'Brien trained three-year-old led habitual front runner Livingston Range in the early stages, as the remainder of the field played catch up.
With the latter gelding struggling to keep tabs on the No Nay Never colt from early in the straight, the majority of rivals were off the bridle in behind.
Only eventual second Dandyville managed to emerge from the chasing pack to throw down any sort of meaningful challenge. The Natalia Lupini trained five-year-old gaining with every stride to get within a nose at the line.
However, Hispanic kept finding for pressure, holding on to record a thoroughly deserved win under a fine front running ride from Heffernan.
Seamie Heffernan said: "He has been a little bit disappointing, but maybe he is only coming to himself.
"It was the backend of last year when he came right and bolted up in a maiden on very different ground and we thought he was a stakes horse, and then he was fourth in a Listed race."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
