An absence of 284 days proved no obstacle to Hint Of A Tint in Galway's feature - the Topaz Mile Handicap.

The five-year-old mare raced in rear early doors before improving into rear of mid-division with five furlongs to travel.

The 6/1 shot crept closer at the three pole before travelling well into third on the home bend. At this stage British raider Baraweez had set sail for home under Donnacha O'Brien.

Hint Of A Tint was soon poised to challenge in second. She was driven into the lead by Lordan inside the final 150 yards and was ridden out to beat Baraweez (8/1) by half a length. The well-backed Unsinkable finished well for third, a head adrift of Baraweez.

Trainer David Wachman said: "Wayne gave her a great ride. She was a little slowly away and he took his time. They went a good gallop and Wayne is very strong when he gets into a finish. She was tough and she was genuine today. The strong gallop suited. They stopped in front of her and she battled well at the line.

"Fran Berry normally rides her but unfortunately the weight was a bit low and Wayne got the chance to ride her so he's delighted.

"She was a good two-year-old and a good three-year-old and she lost her way a bit then but she seems to be back to herself. She's best fresh, that's her first run of the season so we took a chance at the start of the season and said we'd aim her at this. It was a good performance.

"She was second in a Guineas Trial so is Group Three placed but she lost her way a bit. I'll see what the owner (Sue-Ann Foley) wants to do but it's possible that she could go back into pattern company."

Wayne Lordan added: "It went really well. She's a filly that had talent before. She was second in a Guineas trial a couple of years ago. She ran well in this race last year. She has dropped in the weights a good bit and she had been working nicely. David took her slow, that's why he never ran her all year.

"She travelled around and picked up well and went to the line well. She has good runs on the book. It was just getting everything right. Just coming to the line she was having a little puff. I suppose the first run of the year she was entitled to that in a very competitive handicap."

There had been plenty of money for the winner this morning as she was backed from 12/1 to 8/1.

The Stewards enquired into an incident in the dip involving Brendan Brackan ridden by R.P. Downey, placed fifth, Stay De Night ridden by P.J. Smullen, unplaced, Baraweez, ridden by D. O'Brien, placed second and Intensical ridden by K.J. Manning, unplaced. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned, in the presence of Garvan Donnelly, trainer, who accompanied D.O'Brien in the Stewards room. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were of the opinion that D.O'Brien was in breach of Rule 214, in that he rode carelessly and having considered his record, suspended him for three race days.

The Stewards enquired into an incident in the dip involving Jack's Revenge ridden by J.P. O'Brien, placed sixth, Unsinkable, ridden by C.T. Keane, placed third and Third Dimension ridden by C. O'Donoghue, placed fourth. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were of the opinion that C.T.Keane was in breach of Rule 214, in that he rode carelessly and having considered his record, suspended him for one race day.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee