Confuchias has final say to end long wait for Ennis

Leopardstown report: Curragh trainer Frank Ennis overcame the all-powerful Aidan O'Brien team to secure his first Group victory as Confuchias emerged best in Leopardstown's Killavullan Stakes yesterday.

In something of a "David and Goliath" clash, the final Group race of 2006 in Ireland surprisingly didn't fall to the in-form champion trainer but instead to a popular 60-year-old stalwart who in the past has had to supplement his training career by driving horse boxes and working as a stalls handler.

Considering the length of time he has had to wait, Ennis remained admirably calm as Willie Supple guided Confuchias to a three parts of a length defeat of the favourite Albert Einstein despite the latter having veered dramatically to the right in the straight. O'Brien's other runner, Frederick Ozanam, was third.

"I've had some Listed winners (including Miss Childrey and Scottish Memories) but this is our first Group. He has always been a nice horse, though, and shown plenty of pace at home," said Ennis who has now wound up his 2006 Flat campaign despite the final meeting taking place this Sunday.

"The owner (Gay O'Callaghan) usually likes to sell but he might want to keep a horse as good as this," added Ennis.

Despite missing out in the big race, the Ballydoyle battalions didn't waste many bullets in the two juvenile maiden races with the well-backed Archipenko running out a particularly impressive winner of the colts contest. Séamus Heffernan's mount made all to beat his 20 to 1 stable companion Honoured Guest by six lengths and confirm O'Brien's initial impressions.

"We thought he was very good before he ran but he was green on his debut so we left him alone," the trainer said. "He ran well behind another of ours last week and he has stepped up again."

Archipenko carried the familiar Michael Tabor colours but the 825,000 guineas Newmarket purchase Uimhir A Haon scored for the Co Waterford builder Michael Ryan in the fillies race. Heffernan had to get quite serious with the Montjeu filly to hold off Truly Mine by a length but O'Brien believes the best is yet to come from her.

"For a mile and a half filly to do that over seven furlongs was impressive. She has plenty of class to cope with that sort of ground and you would imagine she might be an Oaks filly," he said.

The stands side is often the best place to be when the going is soft at Leopardstown and Fran Berry successfully followed a wide route on Accentuate to beat She's Our Mark in the Nursery.

"I thought he would run well as he ran a good race from a bad draw at the Curragh and he worked well enough on the soft during the week," said Accentuate's trainer Charles O'Brien.

By the time of the Trigo Stakes, most of the jockeys were moving to the stands rail but it was Johnny Murtagh who navigated his way better than anyone to secure another Listed win for the topweight Arch Rebel. The favourite Galatee faded inside the final furlong and it was left to Bon Nuit to chase home the winner at a safe three lengths distance.

Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen combined to land the concluding mile and six handicap with the ex-Tony Martin-trained Hearthstead Dream who could return to Leopardstown for a handicap hurdle at Christmas.

Talihoya possibly earned a continuation of her racing career next year by landing her second race in the seven-furlong handicap, while Abbey Grammer sprang a 20 to 1 surprise in the mile handicap.

Paul Carberry partnered a double at Galway yesterday courtesy of Kahuna and Aitmatov.

Kahuna kicked on before the second last to secure victory in the Killanin Stand Design Team Handicap Chase.

Dusty Sheehy's charge tired badly in the straight but still had enough left to get home by four lengths from Cane Brake.

The Noel Meade-trained Aitmatov proved an easy winner of the opening Connacht Court Maiden Hurdle, leading at the last to score by two and a half lengths from Gripit N Tipit.

Arrive Sir Clive (4 to 7 favourite) was a short-price to make a winning debut over hurdles in the Diamond Vision Novice Hurdle but could only finish a disappointing fourth. Foligold wore down Callherwhatulike to claim the contest.