Sydney Opera House made it third time lucky in the opening John Sisk & Son Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden at the Curragh today as the Aidan O'Brien trained colt won under the Champion Trainer's son and Jockeys' Championship leader Donnacha O'Brien.

The son of Australia made most of the running and in the end posted a good staying performance to beat Patrick Sarsfield by a length and a half.

Afterwards O'Brien senior stated “you'd be delighted with that. We thought he'd win second time but obviously Kevin's horse came and got him.

“He's a lovely horse and will be a middle distance horse next year, he stays well I'd say.

“We're very happy with him and he has options now, maybe the Beresford.”

Sydney Opera House holds entries in the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes and the National Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend and O'Brien added he could possibly line up in one of those, saying “they are coming out of their races well; we've two weeks and he could go there.”

Quotes from Gary Carson