< Profound Beauty made it three wins in as many starts this term as she ran out a convincing winner of the Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown.

The Melbourne Cup hopeful was dropping back in trip to a mile-and-a-half for the Group Three contest but she made light work of seeing off her rivals.

Pat Smullen was content to bide his time on Dermot's Weld's 6-4 shot before powering home a length and a quarter clear of favourite Mourayan

Weld said: "That was a very impressive performance from Profound Beauty. She was very fit and very right for today's race but the runner-up may just have needed the run.

"The race panned out well for us and she'll run in the Irish St Leger next.

"The Melbourne Cup remains a possibility in November but her participation will depend on how we are treated by the Australian handicapper!"

Bookmakers William Hill cut Profound Beauty to 14-1 from 16s for the Flemington showpiece.

Irish Derby third Mourayan remains on course for next month's Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster despite his defeat.

Trainer John Oxx said "Mourayan ran a very good race and the winner is a good filly.

"The ground was probably plenty fast for him and he'd appreciate more of an ease and a longer trip.

"The plan is still to go for the St Leger at Doncaster."< Elusive Award could also head to Doncaster in October after making a successful bow in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

A half-brother to Hardwick Stakes winner Bronze Cannon, Elusive Award was sent off a 25-1 shot for the seven-furlong heat but he came with a late run to see off Rio Command by half a length.

"Elusive Award is entered in the Racing Post Trophy in October and he is a possibility for the race," said trainer Andrew Oliver.

"He's a big, leggy type of horse and won't be knocked around so early in his career."

Oxx and Mick Kinane may have been out of luck with Mourayan in the feature event but Aspectoflove (8-1) was on the mark for the pair in the Costelloe & Costelloe Fillies Handicap.

"She's very consistent but has disappointed on very s