The chestnut Mustajeeb comes home in front under Pat Smullen, from Brendan Bracken in second © Photo Healy Racing
Despite drifting from 7/4 to 5/2 on-course, Mustajeeb justified favouritism as he landed the Group Three Ard Glen Amethyst Stakes in good style.
The Dermot Weld trained colt was last seen finishing second to War Command in the Group Two Futurity Stakes at the Curragh in August, and stepped up to a mile for the first time here he was expected to get the better of his older rivals.
Getting weight all around on account of his age, the chestnut colt came with his run down the outside with over a furlong left to race, getting to the front close home, before keeping on well to see off Brendan Bracken by two and a half lengths.
The runner-up, under Colin Keane for Ger Lyons, ran a fine race in defeat, and he was well-supported on-course from 11/2 to 10/3. One Spirit (28/1) finished best of the rest a further three and a half lengths back in third under Gary Carroll for Frank Dunne.
Dermot Weld said afterwards: "He was a good two-year-old with a rating of 110, and I thought he’d progressed well over the winter.
"I’ll have to speak to Sheikh Hamdan and Angus Gold but I will encourage them to run him in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.
"Pat didn’t have to be hard on him, and that will set him up nicely for two weeks time.
"He seems adaptable ground wise, while the other guy (Alkasser) would like good to fast ground."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
