Balance gets back on track in the Curragh Stakes

Indigo Balance denied Aidan and Donnacha O'Brien of a four-timer, as he powered home to take the Listed Curragh Stakes.

Successful on debut here in May, the Jessica Harrington trained son of Invincible Spirit then finished down the field in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He was a good fourth of five in the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes on his last start, and dropped down to five furlongs today, he was sent off a 9/4 chance in the colours of owner Zhang Yuesheng.

Settled towards rear by Colm O'Donoghue, he took closer order on the far side from the two furlong pole, and was pushed along to challenge with just over a furlong to race.

He got to the front inside the final 100 yards, and powered clear from there, going on to score comfortably by a length and three parts, from the 2/1 favourite Gossamer Wings in second.

Donnacha O'Brien was aboard the runner-up for his father Aidan, while Fantasy (5/1), also trained by Aidan O'Brien, was another half a length back in third.

"He has a lot of ability but he's a little bit wayward," said Harrington.

"Colm said that he's absolutely gun barrel straight and then you ask him and he starts to hang a bit.

"He didn't even hit him. He said there was no point as he was going to pick up fine.

"He'll probably go back up to six now. He's got various entries and we'll see what happens. He only needs one more run this year.

"It was nice to come back to this because last time was a bit disappointing. If he hadn't hung he probably would have went very close that day.

"He has loads of ability anyway, if you can just channel it in the right direction."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson