Charlie Swan treated the Killarney crowd to the full repertoire of his talents by riding a pair of winners and then donning his trainer's hat to land the featured Dawn Milk Handicap with the ex-invalid Aboriginal.
"Aboriginal has had a lot of problems, including cracking his pelvis twice," Swan declared. But the John O'Meara-partnered gelding grabbed the race by the scruff of the neck with a full circuit to go.
The favourite, Colins Double, couldn't live with him and was beaten before the straight. Goldenhalo's challenge also faded inside the final furlong as Aboriginal went on to score by a comfortable length.
Swan said Aboriginal was entered for the GPT at Galway.
The former nine-times champion jockey had earlier shown all his experience in sending Leopard Rock to the front five out in the novice hurdle. From there he always had too much in hand for the odds-on Hang 'Em High.
Leopard Rock is a brother to The Bongo Man and their trainer, Tony Mullins, who was landing his second race of the Killarney week, conceded: "It's always a help to have Charlie on your side."
That opinion was being echoed after Swan had guided the topweight Effusive to an equally comfortable success in the handicap hurdle.
But Limerick trainer Austin Leahy could only conclude that fortune wasn't on his side for the week despite At His Best adding the mile handicap to the one he dead-heated for on Tuesday.
Leahy had a remarkable six runner-up placings over the four days and after Fran Berry had patiently set At His Best alight to beat the favourite Dromhall Lady, Leahy said: "That deadens the pain a bit."
A trainer very much in winning form was Frances Crowley, who brought her total for the week to five yesterday courtesy of Garryduff Breeze in the second division of the handicap hurdle.
The mare, in foal to Dr Massini, has an entry at Kilbeggan today but Crowley commented: "It's very hot here today and that takes it out of them so I'd say she's unlikely to run again."
Alonsa, from the family of the demoted Oaks "winner" Alisya, scored on her first start for the Curragh trainer Frank Ennis in the 11-furlong maiden. The ex-Clive Brittain-trained filly overhauled Lucky Bet near the end to win by three parts of a length.
