Curragh Saturday: Kevin Prendergast's consistent Mustameet continued his good run of form when scoring for the fourth time this season in the International Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.
Declan McDonogh settled the five-year-old in mid-division through the early stages and moved upsides the early pace-setter Kings Point as the field approached the final couple of furlongs.
Once McDonogh pressed the button at that point, Mustameet responded with a fine turn of foot that saw him shake off the attentions of Modeeroch and build what looked a winning lead.
As soon as he had done so, however, Ace emerged as a live threat once Kieren Fallon extricated him from a pocket on the far rails, but Prendergast's 9 to 4 shot stayed on too stoutly and landed the spoils.
Ace, the 5 to 4 favourite, was reverting to a mile for the first time since 2004 and finished strongly when in the clear to go down by a rapidly diminishing head, with Jim Bolger's Modeeroch a further two lengths away in third.
Barry Hills's Killybegs fared best of the British duo in fourth as the Richard Fahey-trained Kings Point dropped away tamely to trail home last of the seven.
A delighted McDonogh said: "He's done it well and I'm delighted for everyone concerned today.
"Pat (Smullen) set a nice pace on Kings Point and I got a nice clear run and he picked up well when I asked him. He seems better than ever this season - I've ridden since he was two and he seems stronger than ever".
Earlier on the card, the 7 to 1 shot Alexander Tango made a big impression when landing the Ladbrokes.com European Breeders' Fund Fillies Maiden on her racecourse debut.
Wayne Lordan brought the Danehill Dancer filly with a strong run to take command inside the final furlong and she readily galloped two and a half lengths clear of the field to win going away.
Osterhase, the 6 to 4 favourite, ensured punters had something to shout about when getting the better of a sustained duel with Leitra (7 to 1) in the 100,000 Ladbrokes Rockingham Handicap. The pair had things between them throughout the final furlong and a half but Fran Berry galvanised the seven-year-old to get up late on and repeat his 2004 victory in this valuable event.
