Latino Magic, trained by Robbie Osborne for his mother Joan and ridden by Robbie Burke, sprinted clear inside the final furlong for an impressive victory in the featured McDonogh EBF Handicap.
The whole complexion of the extended mile event changed off the final turn as the front-running Sheer Tenby drifted left and carried Charmed Forest with him.
This left a big gap for Latino Magic to run into, and the 5yo quickened up well for Burke to beat Camargue by 2 1/2L with first reserve Absolute Image 3/4L back in third.
'I bought him as a yearling and he's not only put me on the map but kept me on the map,' said Osborne, enjoying his biggest success since taking out a licence five years ago.
'He's a pleasure to train, an absolute gentleman and is all heart and guts. He's been dropped 6lb since running in Dubai earlier this year but I haven't been disappointed with the way he's run.'
Burke was recording his second win in this race having partnered Mudarris for Kevin Prendergast 15 years ago, and Osborne was full of praise for the former dual Macau champion afterwards.
'Robbie gets on really well with this horse. For whatever reason he's fallen a bit out of fashion in recent years but I know from working at home what a good rider and horseman he is.'
Sheer Tenby's rider Michael Cleere was given a two days suspension for careless riding, while Brian Hughes was handed a three days ban for a similar offence aboard Miss Trish (eighth).
There was a fairytale opening to day two of the Festival as Vincent Slevin, who worked for Tom Dreaper in the glory days of the 1960's, saddled his first winner with Ballyhoctor in the maiden hurdle.
'I started training a few years ago for something to do in my retirement,' quipped Borrisokane-based Slevin after his only horse in training headed My Native Lad on the run-in to score by 3L under Ruby Walsh.
'I delivered fish all around the country for Central Fisheries and have also done a bit of farming,' said the restricted licence holder, who plans to run his charge on the Flat at Tramore next month.
The heavily-backed 5/4 (from 7/4) favourite The Foyle could find no extra from two out finishing fifth and was later found to have burst a blood vessel.
There was a cracking finish to the 2m6f winners chase and the outcome of the photo finish came as a surprise to most after One More Minute and Safe Route flashed past the post separated by the width of the track.
One More Minute, who looked set for a convincing success in the hands of Paul Carberry after the last until weakening on the long run-in, got the verdict on the stands side.
'He jumped well but Paul said he did nothing after he went to the front. He's a nice young horse and a novice for this season but I don't like running them on that fast ground too often,' said trainer Charlie Swan.
Fran Berry narrowed the gap on the suspended Pat Smullen in the Flat jockeys championship when producing Carlesimo with a well-timed challenge to land the two miles handicap.
The Noel Meade-trained gelding led a furlong out to beat the staying on Mountain Snow, who had to be switched to the outer off the home bend to gain a clear run, by 3/4L.
'Fran had the tactics worked out beforehand and carried them out well. We've entered him for a novice chase on Saturday and, while he's schooled well, I don't know if he will run,' said Meade.
Jim Bolger has the Tattersalls Ireland September Sales Stakes at the Curragh (August 20) in mind for Chennai after she got up in the final stride of the juvenile fillies maiden.
Kevin Manning gave the daughter of Mozart a determined drive to touch off Mrs Snaffles, who was bidding to provide Curragh trainer Frank Ennis with his second two-year-old winner here this week.
The Bolger/Manning alliance successfully teamed up again in the seven furlongs maiden when Loblolly Bay was always prominent and stayed on strongly to beat Happy To Chat by 2L.
The handicapper was sure to be smiling after the seven furlongs 50-80 rated handicap where less than a length covered the first five home.
Homegrown completed a hat-trick here for Freshford trainer Pat Tallis, staying on gamely under a powerful ride by Seamus Heffernan to beat Dollars Rock by a neck.
The attendance of 24,756, up 1,476 on last year, was a record for a Tuesday evening at the Festival, while the Tote aggregate was also a best for the day at 1,135,233.
Alan Magee
