Caponata is driven out by Pat Smullen to beat We'll Go Walking© Photo Healy Racing
Dermot Weld's classy filly Caponata opened her campaign on a winning note as she took the feature Irish Stallion Farms EBF Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes at Gowran Park.
Just beaten in a Group Two race at the Curragh last September, she was sent off the 5-4 favourite for this Listed contest and travelled nicely up to challenge after market rival We'll Go Walking had everything else on the stretch.
Pat Smullen urged her into the lead inside the final furlong and she crossed the line with half a length to spare from the long-time leader.
The victory completed a double for trainer and jockey after Lucky Kitten (14-1) swept through to take the www.gowranpark.ie Handicap by three and a quarter lengths with something in hand.
But their hopes of a treble were thwarted when Ghaamer travelled up to the lead going like a winner in the Gowran Gathering Wednesday 14th August Maiden only to be grabbed close home and beaten a neck by Gary Carroll on Ger Lyons' newcomer Safe Home (25-1).
Mick Halford's top-weight Ondeafears picked up a decent pot when threading her way through late on to snatch the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap in the shadow of the post.
Shane Foley had plenty of horses in front of him at the two pole on the 4-1 favourite and had to find the gaps before grabbing Core Element to score a shade cosily by half a length.
Jim Bolger has made a great start to the season and the Coolcullen handler put another two on the board, both of them ridden by Kevin Manning, beginning when Tobann (9-1) ran away with the Fabulous Fillies Package Maiden to score by seven lengths.
If anything An Saincheann (9-4) was even more impressive in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden, taking charge from the top of the straight and stretching away for a 13-length victory.
