Sunchart once again proved his liking for Naas when the mud is flying by winning the TOTE Irish EBF Devoy Stakes for the second year in succession.
Andrew Slattery's stable stalwart claimed the biggest victory of his career so far in this Listed contest 12 months ago and having since plied his trade not only on the Flat but also over hurdles, the eight-year-old returned for his first competitive appearance since October.
Dallas Star – not seen since picking up an injury in last year’s Derby – took the field along for much of the 10-furlong contest before being joined by 15-8 favourite Trustyourinstinct, but Sunchart (6-1) soon arrived on the outside to throw down his challenge.
The further Slattery’s charge went the more decisive his victory became and he was ultimately well on top as he passed the post with two and three-quarter lengths in hand over Enfranchise, who made late gains to beat Trustyourinstinct to the runner-up spot.
Slattery said: "He loves this place and never runs a bad race here. It’s a pity they wouldn’t put on a few more of those races here for me!
"He loves an ease in the ground and it’s great to have a servant like that. It took him a long time to win a race like that and he’s won two Listed races now, one year after another.
"We might go travelling this year, because he’s eight. We might go to Germany or somewhere like that where he’d get soft ground, over a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half."
On a potential return to hurdles, the trainer added: "He could do that. Pat (Garvey, owner) is not fond of the hurdles but he could.
"Usually the ground over hurdles would suit him better because it would be watered."
East Hampton rounded off a profitable weekend for trainer David Marnane with a decisive victory in the €45,000 Irish Racing Writers Association Ron McKnight Memorial Madrid Handicap at Naas.
Following a Friday night double at Dundalk, the Tipperary handler sent just one runner to County Kildare on Sunday, with East Hampton a 7-1 shot for his first start since November.
The son of Cracksman was fourth behind the high-class Henri Matisse on his racecourse debut in May last year and went on to win a Curragh maiden before the end of 2024.
Having been gelded during the off-season, the three-year-old looked much improved as he pulled a length of the runner-up Wizard Of Odds in the hands of Luke McAteer, and Marnane is confident there is more to come in his favoured testing conditions.
He said: "He obviously had a very good run the first day and then the only day he got anything resembling soft ground he won on it at the Curragh.
"He wants an ease in the ground. We brought him to Dundalk and his fractions were actually very good but he just didn't like the surface so we put him away with this in mind.
"We’ll see where he lands, he’s a good horse anyway. As long as there is a bit of ease in the ground, we’ll keep going."
Rowdy Yeats (5-1) looks set to go on to bigger and better things after impressing in the Space Traveller At Compas Stallions Maiden.
Runner-up on each of his two juvenile starts last season for Noel Meade, the Make Believe colt quickened up smartly for Jamie Powell in the last of seven furlongs to beat 13-8 favourite Storm Piece by three and a half lengths, with Mississippi River a close-up third.
"He’s a nice horse. We fancied him when he went to the Curragh last year, we never thought he was bred to be a five-furlong horse, but he was beat by a very good horse (Arizona Blaze) and they were a long way clear of the third," said Meade.
"I thought I’d give him time to mature but I found it very hard to get him back and I don’t think I really had him 100 per cent when he came here at the end of the season.
"He has trained very well and I fancied him today. I don’t know where he goes now but there is no reason why he can’t run in good races, I think he’s a good horse."
Hurricane Ivor was a 20-1 winner of the DAR Golf Handicap, his eighth career victory and third since joining Jessica Harrington two years ago.
Harrington said: "When he’s on-song he’s on-song! He worked really well the other day up Walsh’s Hill (at the Curragh). Scott (McCullagh, jockey) rode him and he tanked up there.
"I had no idea (what to expect), I thought the ground was maybe a bit heavy for him but when he’s in a going mood like that he’s very strong.
"As he’s got older seven furlongs seems to be no problem and he might go a mile. He’s such a cool dude."
Sunchart once again proved his liking for Naas when the mud is flying by winning the TOTE Irish EBF Devoy Stakes for the second year in succession.
Andrew Slattery's stable stalwart claimed the biggest victory of his career so far in this Listed contest 12 months ago and having since plied his trade not only on the Flat but also over hurdles, the eight-year-old returned for his first competitive appearance since October.
Dallas Star – not seen since picking up an injury in last year’s Derby – took the field along for much of the 10-furlong contest before being joined by 15-8 favourite Trustyourinstinct, but Sunchart (6-1) soon arrived on the outside to throw down his challenge.
The further Slattery’s charge went the more decisive his victory became and he was ultimately well on top as he passed the post with two and three-quarter lengths in hand over Enfranchise, who made late gains to beat Trustyourinstinct to the runner-up spot.
Slattery said: "He loves this place and never runs a bad race here. It’s a pity they wouldn’t put on a few more of those races here for me!
"He loves an ease in the ground and it’s great to have a servant like that. It took him a long time to win a race like that and he’s won two Listed races now, one year after another.
"We might go travelling this year, because he’s eight. We might go to Germany or somewhere like that where he’d get soft ground, over a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half."
On a potential return to hurdles, the trainer added: "He could do that. Pat (Garvey, owner) is not fond of the hurdles but he could.
"Usually the ground over hurdles would suit him better because it would be watered."
