Ol' Man River is driven out close home by Joseph O'Brien © Photo Healy Racing
< Ol' Man River gave every indication he will be a major player in next season's Classics as he dismissed the opposition in the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes at the Curragh.
Sent off the 1-2 favourite for the Group Two contest, the son of Montjeu and dual Guineas heroine Finsceal Beo was settled in fourth place and was asked for his effort a quarter of a mile out by Joseph O'Brien, who went on to a four-timer.
The response was impressive as the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt quickened up smartly to pass the post with two and three-quarter lengths to spare from Clonard Street completing a Ballydoyle treble in the process.< Qualify stepped down in class from the Moyglare, in which she finished sixth, to run out a ready winner of the Group Three CL & MF Weld Park Stakes for the O'Brien team.
Joseph O'Brien settled the 9-4 shot at the back of the field and she produced a nice turn of foot down the outside from the two-furlong marker to beat Lola Beaux by three lengths, with the odds-on Stellar Glow having every chance in third.
Ballydoyle picked up another good prize when The Great War (10-11 favourite) returned to his best in the Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Blenheim Stakes, skipping clear after leading a furlong and a half out to beat Tamadhor by three and a half lengths.
Mick Halford's 2-1 favourite Portage finished second on his debut and followed up by carrying the Godolphin colours to victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, running on strongly under Shane Foley to collar Sacrificial for a half-length strike.
John Kiely's mare Toe The Line (7-2) stepped up to Listed company for the Irish Field Loughbrown Stakes and slipped through a gap on the rail under Fran Berry to lead a furlong out and win by a neck from the fast-finishing Altesse
Berry led all the way on Prince Connoisseur (10-1) in the Manguard Plus Joe McGrath Handicap, while Kate Harrington kept Hurricane Ridge (5-1) going from the front to land the Tipperary Crystal Amateur Derby and O'Brien jnr completed his great day on Elusive Time (20-1)
