Big in Japan!

Declan McDonogh took the final race at Dundalk last night when the Japanese-bred Shadow Gate overhauled the Aidan O'Brien-trained Ernest Hemingway in the closing stages for a comfortable victory to land the €10,000 first prize. Trained by Kildare-based Takashi Kodama, the 10-year-old Shadow Gate won the group one Singapore Airlines Cup in 2007 (€600,000), but was running for the first time in Ireland last night. McDonogh got through on the inside to win well with the Ger Lyons-trained 7/4 favourite Brendan Brackan in sixth place. Trainer Joanna Morgan recorded her 11th winner of the season when she was on the mark with Balmont Flyer which completed a double for Pat Smullen to leave him on the 80-winner mark.