Caravaggio and Seamus Heffernan are clear© Photo Healy Racing
< Caravaggio toyed with the opposition to prove the highlight of a treble for Aidan O'Brien and Seamie Heffernan in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.
The 1-8 favourite is by far and away the leading juvenile of the season and backed up his Coventry Stakes triumph in bloodless fashion.
He took the lead off stablemate Courage Under Fire a couple of furlongs from the finish and strode majestically clear to register a four-length victory.< Hydrangea is still very much a work in progress but carried on her forward momentum with an all-the-way win in the Loder European Breeders Fund Fillies Race.
The 4-9 favourite was allowed an uncontested lead for much of the race and when challenged two furlongs out, responded well to Heffernan's urgings and beat Madame Cherie by two and a quarter lengths.
Her stable companion Utah also showed the benefit of experience in the Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital European Breeders Fund Maiden.
The 11-10 favourite made his own running and stuck his neck out pleasingly to flash past the post two and a quarter lengths clear of fellow Ballydoyle youngster The Anvil who made a pleasing introduction.
O'Brien did suffer one significant reverse on the afternoon when Air Force Blue again blotted his copybook, failing to beat a single rival home in the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club Phoenix Sprint Stakes.
The Group Two prize went the way of Toscanini (5-1), who battled hard under James Doyle to inflict a length-and-a-quarter defeat on Eastern Anthem.< Mur Hiba is getting better with racing and Michael O'Callaghan's filly made it third-time lucky in the K Club European Breeders Fund Maiden at odds of 3-1.< Plough Boy (8-1) confirmed the promise of his recent Galway Festival performance when coming out on top in the Plusvital Handicap, while Robert Smithers got Castle Guest (10-1) home in the O'Brien's Wines Handicap.
