There was a dramatic finish to the Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes at Gowran Park on Saturday, as Pat Smullen came with a late run aboard Discipline to surprise the seemingly in-command BOCCA BACIATA (IRE) on the line. Settled towards the rear by Colm O'Donoghue, the latter began to race keenly when the pace slowed at halfway before switching to the outside two furlongs out, passing her rivals as they came under pressure. Clear with little pressure inside the final furlong, her pilot dropped his hands while Smullen did the opposite, coming with a flying finish to bring the result to the judges. The four-year-old filly prevailed, the winning margin of a head not reflecting the ease of her win, unlike the six length gap to Group 3 winner Steip Amach (IRE) in third.

Winning trainer Jessica Harrington said there were numerous options for the Flaxmans Stables filly, whose owners gave €230,000 for her at the Goffs Orby Sale, where she was offered by Kildaragh Stud on behalf of breeders Citadel Stud. She is one of the highest-rated performers by Big Bad Bob (IRE), who tragically died after a paddock accident at the Irish National Stud at the weekend. BOCCA BACIATA (IRE) is a half-sister to Group 3 winners Topeka (IRE) and Kalsa (IRE), out of a black-type half-sister to dual Stakes winner Perugina, from a long line that was bred by the late Gerry Oldham of Citadel.

The previous day, another talented horse made a winning return to the track in Stakes company, as BONDI BEACH (IRE) took the Listed Martin Molony Stakes at Limerick. The mile and four and a half furlong contest was run on yielding ground and attracted a field of eight, Seamie Heffernan settling the favourite to the rear, where he remained until two furlongs out. He then quickened well on the outer to take the lead at the furlong pole and was pushed clear to win by two and three parts of a length, Listed winner Altesse taking runner-up honours two lengths ahead of Toe The Line (IRE), winner of the Petingo Handicap and the Loughbrown Stakes. Aidan O'Brien's four-year-old made a winning debut last year before winning the Group 3 Curragh Cup and progressed to finished an unlucky second in the Great Voltigeur Stakes and a controversial second in the Ladbrokes St Leger. Lloyd Williams bought a share in the son of Galileo (IRE) when targeting the Melbourne Cup, in which he was beaten six and a quarter lengths. A brother to two winners, he becomes yet another talented performer bred on the Galileo (IRE), Danehill cross and is out of an unraced sister to dual Group 1 winner Simply Perfect