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Toscanini got off the mark in his first race for 245 days when holding the late challenge of Ainippe in the Brews Hill Race at Navan.
Absent since finishing second to Gleneagles in the Group One National Stakes at the Curragh in September, Toscanini (9-10 favourite) put himself in line for Royal Ascot with a winning reappearance.
Smartly away in the hands of Shane Foley, the Michael Halford-trained colt travelled well and easily took over from the pacesetting Beach Belle just over a furlong out before holding Ainippe by a head.
Though the runner-up put in a strong challenge and was closing with every stride, Foley was not hard on the Godolphin-owned winner and got him home for a cosy success.
Halford said: "I'm happy with that and it's good to get him started. He travelled well but wasn't doing a whole lot in front. He'll go to Naas now and then Ascot.
"He was only ready to start and I'm very happy. Shane said he had a good blow at the furlong pole and was just doing enough from there. The faster they go the better for him and the faster the ground the better."
Halford will see how he performs in the Lacken Stakes on June 1 before deciding whether to keep him at sprint trips or step up to seven furlongs for the Jersey Stakes.
He went on: "I'll wait and see what happens in Naas. He's in the Jersey. He hasn't got any slower over the winter. We'll keep our options open."
Auld Enemy (13-2) put up a promising display when making all the running to make a winning debut in the Requinto EBF Maiden.
David Wachman's son of Fastnet Rock broke away nicely under Wayne Lordan to grab the far rail and dictate affairs. Well in command, he went to score by a length and a half from Black Beach, with the always prominent favourite Stone Mountain third.
The trainer said: "He's a grand colt. He had a good draw and was reasonably professional. He wants further and we'll get him home and make a plan for him then."
Wachman and Lordan completed a double when Curvy (15-8 favourite) followed up last month's course and distance success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap, collaring Dragon Fei close home to score by half a length.
"She's a nice filly. She'll run in stakes races now. She's got a good pedigree so it's important to get some black type," said Wachman.
Joseph O'Brien feels Ivanovich Gorbatov (9-2), trained by his father Aidan, could be the type for the Queen's Vase at the Royal meeting after the Montjeu colt opened his account in the Excelebration Maiden, running on strongly after being driven ahead two furlongs out.
The jockey said: "He quickened up nicely but was a bit green. They went a good gallop and the race worked out for him. He could be one for the Queen's Vase."
The O'Briens doubled up when Derby entry Jinsha Lake (11-8 favourite) won in similar style in the Pour Moi EBF Maiden.
Joe Eile (10-1) made the most of his rails draw to come out on top in the navanracecourse.ie Handicap.
Making light of a 295-day absence, the Ger Lyons-trained seven-year-old took a definite advantage a furlong out and was kept up to his work by Colin Keane to score by half a length from In Salutem.
Lyons said: "That's nice. He was over in England for a year and dropped a bit in the ratings. He didn't win over there and they tend to drop them quicker than they do over here. That was the winning of the race. He had been working well at home."
