Hard Rock City produced a performance full of guts to grab the feature event on the final day of the week-long Galway Festival.
The Michael Grassick-trained seven-year-old was lumbered with 10st 4lb in the Michael McNamara & Co Builders Dublin & Galway Handicap and was sent off at 8-1 as punters plunged on Nastrelli, the mount of the in-form Johnny Murtagh.
The 5-2 favourite never threatened, however, as up front Seamus Heffernan galvanised Hard Rock City to get back up and nail Warriors Key having been passed by that rival inside the last.
He was given a bump on the way for good measure but it made no difference and he was a short-head to the good at the line.
Little White Lie was another three-quarters of a length away in third.
Grassick said: ‘That was a great performance with the weight he had to carry, he battled very well. He's been a good servant to the yard.
‘We'll see what happens now, we might give him a break and bring him back for the Group Three Concorde Stakes at Tipperary (October 7).’
