Lady Upstage gave the Barry Hills stable a boost with victory in the Hunston Financial Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh today.
The Lambourn trainer's team has been under a cloud in recent weeks but his filly's success in the Irish Group Two contest signalled better times ahead.
Hills' son Michael just kept Lady Upstage going long enough to hold the late surge of Preseli by a short head in the £80,000 10-furlong event, in which The Queen's Spinning Top proved a disappointing 11-8 favourite.
Sir Michael Stoute's charge, The Queen's first runner in Ireland, held every chance early in the home straight before fading out to finish seventh with her rider Michael Kinane in some discomfort.
Kinane was found to have tweaked a muscle in his back and was stood down for the rest of the afternoon by the Turf Club's medical officer Walter Halley who explained: "He is resting and will have to pass me tomorrow if he is to ride in the Derby. He needs to have full movement in his back to ride again."
Spinning Top was later examined by the Turf Club vet who reported the filly to be "slightly lame on her off-fore".
For Hills, Lady Upstage's significant success proved very welcome indeed after what he described as "digestive problems" with his horses.
"The horses were constantly running on empty and there was no obvious reason why," he revealed. "It has been a long haul, but hopefully the nightmare is over.
"If all trainers were truthful they would say they are having the same problems. It has been atrocious weather."
Now Hills and owner Mrs Bunny Roberts are thinking of a crack at the Dubai Champion Stakes later in the season.
Hills junior said afterwards that the 10-furlong trip was ideal for his mount.
He said: "She idled in the last furlong, but when Preseli came alongside I had enough time to race with her and that stopped us being overtaken with a late burst.
"I was going really well into the home straight as I knew she would get the trip I kicked early and she battled well to stay in front."
Preseli showed a welcome return to her best form after disappointing when heavily in season for the Irish 1000 Guineas and is on track to run next in the Irish Oaks.
"One more stride and we would have won. The ground is on the slow side of good after the rain and that, along with her 5lb Group One penalty, got us beaten but at least she stayed on strongly and we can look forward to the Irish Oaks," said trainer Michael Grassick.
Grassick's stable jockey Eddie Ahern not only suffered the disappointment of losing out by a whisker, he was promptly in front of the stewards and banned for two days for using his whip with excessive frequency.
Aidan O'Brien who saddled the third home Alluring could have to find not one but two substitute riders for his Irish Derby quartet tomorrow as Paul Scallan was injured earlier in the afternoon during the Waterford Crystal Celebration Handicap.
Scallan was stood down for 48-hours with concussion after his mount Pip'n Judy slipped up in the first furlong. Scallan was due to partner Shoal Creek for O'Brien in the big race, with stable jockey Kinane, who opted for Ciro having to pass the doctor now if he is to take part.
