Johnny Murtagh enjoyed an armchair ride on the progressive Quinmaster as the pair claimed the €150,000 Tote Galway Mile European Breeders Fund Handicap at Ballybrit this evening.
The Michael Halford-trained four-year-old made virtually all in the extended mile contest, with his rider never having to get serious at any stage for a two-and-a-half-length success over Dermot Weld's 3-1 favourite Absolute Image.
British raider Fremen showed up well for a long way but faded in the closing stages after throwing down a challenge on the home bend.
Halford, winning the most valuable Flat handicap in Ireland for the first time, said of the 8-1 chance: "We gelded him earlier this season after the Lincoln and gave him a bit of a break.
"This has been the plan for quite a while and he is a horse on the up. Johnny gave him a great ride in front. The horse had form on soft ground in France and the ease (in the ground) was probably a help."
Charlie Swan's Sorry Al (7-2) outstayed the long-time leader Pharviva (5-1) to claim the 50,000 McDonogh Properties Chase.
Robbie Power tried to make every post a winning one on the latter and jumped for fun out on his own in front. However, just when it looked as if he had fought off all his rivals, David Casey managed to find more from his mount to claim a two-length success.
Ruby Walsh finished third on the 5-4 favourite Commonchero but he was badly hampered by the fall of Star Horse half a mile from home.
"The horse really likes this place. He's in again later this week but he's unlikely to run," Swan said. "He'll probably come back for something here at the three-day meeting in September. Hopefully the Galway Plate could be on his agenda next year.
"Ground is very important to him, he needs it pretty quick. I won this last year with One More Minute."
Enterprising tactics by Adrian Lane paid off when he partnered Arc Lemanique to victory in the opening tote.ie Online Betting Maiden Hurdle.
The three pound claimer sent the Pat Fahy-trained six-year-old into the lead a long way out and held Balakan by two and a half lengths.
The 14-1 shot had burned off all his rivals before the turn for home except Balakan, but even he could make no serious inroads.
Fahy said: "He had a very bad virus last year and things are coming together this season.
"He stays really well. He struggled in the early part of the race today but he was able to kick on going down the hill which is probably what won it for him.
"He's entered in a novice hurdle on Thursday but we'll see how he comes out of this first."
Diego Garcia (12-1) ran out a convincing winner of the first Flat race on the card, the Tote Jackpot Handicap.
Truly Gold had looked likely to oblige for favourite-backers when travelling strongly into the lead turning for home, but he was collared by the eventual winner early in the straight.
The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old wasted no time in going clear for Davy Condon and at the line had three lengths in hand of Grand Revival, who just edged out Truly Gold for second.
"He will mix it between the Flat and hurdles, and will probably go novice chasing this winter," said Mullins.
"Depending on how he comes out of this race he may run over hurdles later here this week."
Weld was on the mark when Supposition justified odds of 2-7 with the minimum of fuss in the Tote Exacta European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden.
Pat Smullen committed some way out on the Khalid Abdullah-owned daughter of Dansili and put the race to bed before entering the straight, coasting home seven lengths clear of Danpali.
"That was a lovely performance," Weld said. "She made a nice debut at the Curragh and has progressed well. I will have to discuss plans with Prince Khalid's manager Teddy Grimthorpe as to where we go next.
"She is a filly with a lot of potential and while I am not sure how strong the opposition was, all she can do is win easily."