Jefferson Davis, pink, leads them home in Killarney© Photo Healy Racing
There was plenty of money around during the day for Jefferson Davis in the nursery at Killarney and it proved to be well placed as he comfortably landed the opener.
Kevin Prendergast 's charge had been unplaced in his three outings to date and was dipping his toe into handicap company for the first time off a mark of 75. A visor was fitted for the first time. He was also stepping up in trip having raced twice over seven furlongs and once over five furlongs.
Chris Hayes settled him in rear of the six runners in this extended mile race before he was pushed along to get closer with less than three furlongs to travel.
He soon came with a challenge in third down the outside and looked threatening as he attempted to chase down the leader Hollywood Road and Flirt
He was ridden to lead outside the furlong pole and asserted in the final 150 yards to win cosily by five lengths at 9/2. He had been backed from 6/1` to 7/2 in early-price trading.
Chris Hayes said: "He's a nice horse. We fancied him earlier in the year but he was probably racing over the wrong trip and the wrong ground. As a result he got a reasonable mark for what he'd done.
"The boss put on a visor and it worked. He's in again at Tipperary next Thursday." Dancing On Air the 5/4 favourite stayed on to be second. She came in three parts of a length ahead of Hollywood Road.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
