‘Improving’ Kerisa delivers

The John Oxx-trained, Kerisa landed the €25,000 Irish Stallion Farms Connacht Oaks, feature of last night’s flat action in Sligo.

Carrying the colours of the Aga Khan, the three-year-old Azamour filly came from off the pace under Declan McDonogh, edged past Strandfield Lady at the furlong-pole and kept on under pressure to hold the late challenge of Drifting Mist by a head.

McDonogh said: "She deserved that, after two good runs since her handicap win. She handled the ground well. But she was idling in front and was starting to pull up in the last 100 yards. She’s an improving filly."

Fresh from his fabulous four-timer in Cork on Tuesday night, apprentice Connor King struck again when making all the running on odds-on favourite Zafarqand in the Martin Reilly Motors Apprentice Maiden, the rider’s 27th success of the season.

Zafarqand is trained by Oliver Brady, who entertained the crowd around the winner’s enclosure in typical style, advising them: "When this fellow goes over hurdles (probably at Leopardstown over Christmas), you can have the house on him."

After partnering 11/8 favourite Pixie Hollow to a convincing three lengths win in the opening two-year-old auction maiden, Chris Hayes admitted: "She shouldn’t have been here — I should have won on her in Fairyhouse, where I gave her an ordinary ride."

He added: "But she’s a nice filly and I’m lucky to be riding for nice people — they left me on her."

Hayes, who went on to complete a double when the Harry Rogers-trained Cheval Rouge repeated last year’s win in the finale, the Sligo Weekender Handicap, indicated that Pixie Hollow is likely to fulfil her engagement in the €125,000 Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes at the Curragh on August 24.

Also bound for that Curragh event is Focussed, trained by Brendan Duke for Mrs Jackie Bolger, who followed-up Saturday’s Galway nursery success in the Ladies Day At Sligo Nursery, beating Hilltown Gal by a half-length.

In typically ebullient style, Duke declared: "It’s absolutely fantastic. I took a bit of a chance running him so soon, under a 5lb. penalty, as the handicapper only put him up 4lb. But running him in a 0-75 will, hopefully, be a distant memory in a short time."

"Like his sire (Intense Focus) and his breeder (Jim Bolger), he loves hard work. And I think he’s only coming to himself. But the big sales race at the Curragh on the 24th is high on my agenda. I’d really like to win it as it would help my bank manager off the tranquilisers!"

A beaten favourite on her last visit to Sligo, the Charlie Swan-trained Bainne swooped late to beat Jumbo Steps in the Foley’s Bar & Off Licence Handicap, giving apprentice Shane Gray his third success of the season.

Out of luck earlier on favourite Fleur De Nuit in the Connacht Oaks, Johnny Murtagh made his rare trip to Sligo worthwhile when handicap debutant Flight Of the Saker was a shock winner of the Sligo Park Hotel Handicap.

Murtagh said: "He always had ability, but never produced it. The mile and a half and the visor made a difference to him. We’ll probably turn him out again quickly, maybe in Tramore next week."