Aidan O’Brien might have taken the main plaudits by winning his 14th Irish Derby with Auguste Rodin on Sunday, but it was heartening to see Harry’s Hill get his head in front in the €100,000 Rockingham Stakes, giving Martin Hassett’s small stable a huge result on one of the marquee days on the Irish racing calendar.

Harry’s Hill was ridden by Hassett’s son Wayne, who belied his inexperience by finding a gap late on and driving the five-year-old through in an amazing finish - there was just half a length separating the first five home.

The success continued a fine run of form for the Hassett operation, based in Burnchurch, Co Tipperary, and which is largely made up of family members who ride out and work for the love of the game

Hassett recently featured in The Irish Field and told of how a lucky acquisition of a foal helped him to pay for his current gallop. He had picked up a foal more or less for free during the height of the recession, reared it and then trained it to win a maiden hurdle before selling him on for €50,000.

Most of the horses he has in his care now are family owned. Harry’s Hill is owned by the Tipp Ramblers Partnership and off the back of this success, he might just start to find a few more outside clients.

Reflecting on the success on Sunday, Hassett said: “This is the most important race of the year for a small operation and small owners. Harry’s Hill was bought for €12,000 and is a legend of a horse.

“Wayne (17) is well able to ride and he doesn’t look like a 10lb claimer. He’s working in Joseph O’Brien’s now and will learn plenty there.”

The other notable win over the weekend was that of Mashhoor, another syndicate-owned horse who upset some grand connections after he led all the way in the Group 3 International Stakes.

The Johnny Murtagh-trained five-year-old has now won his last three races and will likely be afforded the chance to race in a Group 1, such is his progression. Meath legend Tommy Dowd heads the Brunabonne Syndicate that owns him, which is a particular special connection for Murtagh, who may be based on the Curragh now but was born and raised in the royal county.