Sunday 16 July 2017 17:09, UK
Spirit Of Valor gave O'Brien a quick Group Two double when leading all the way to lift the Qatar Airways Minstrel Stakes.
Ryan Moore was able to dictate affairs on the War Front colt, who showed his second in Royal Ascot's Jersey Stakes at odds of 66-1 was no fluke as he kept finding to keep his rivals at bay.
The 5-2 joint-favourite crossed the line a length and three-quarters clear of David O'Meara's So Beloved, with the Ed Walker-trained Stormy Antarctic a short head away in third.
"Over six or seven furlongs on fast ground he's obviously a real good horse," said O'Brien.
"He had a very good run in Ascot. We tried him at a mile the first day (Qipco 2000 Guineas) and it was stretching him a bit. Then we came back to a mile on soft ground (Irish Guineas).
"Ryan was very happy with him. There were horses with good form in that race.
"We might have a look at the Lennox in Goodwood or something like that.
"There's no doubt he's improving. He's by War Front so he would like nice ground and the reason they do is because they are all fast horses."
Earlier, O'Brien's Elizabeth Browning came from last to first to land the Group Two spoils in the Kilboy Estates Stakes.
Seamie Heffernan gave Aidan O'Brien's three-year-old a patient ride, as first Sea Swift and then Turret Rocks set the pace, before delivering the 12-1 chance with a sweeping run on the outside to strike by a length and three-quarters from Martyn Meade's Newmarket challenger Wilamina. O'Brien's other runner, Pocketfullofdreams, an 11-2 chance, was only fifth of the seven runners.
"Seamus gave her a great ride. She's a filly we've always thought had a lot of ability and she missed a lot of lines," said O'Brien.
"She's starting to get it together and on her last few runs she's starting to back up. "It's a great race for fillies at this time of year. It's fits in perfect.
"She'll stay a bit further, she was coming home well."
Dawn Delivers got off the mark at the third attempt when justifying her short price in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at the Curragh.
The Jim Bolger-trained youngster had taken on colts when second on her first two starts and made no mistake against her own sex.
Leading just inside the final furlong, the 4-7 shot won cosily despite the newcomer Magical cutting the deficit to half a length at the line.
"That's job done. She'll stay further and we might look at the Silver Flash Stakes (at Leopardstown) with her," said Bolger.
"There are no easy maidens and they've been strong all year.
"The progeny of Dawn Approach are lovely horses to work with and that's half the battle."
Golden Spell (11-4 favourite) put up a sound display to defy top weight in the Plusvital Speed Gene Nursery Handicap.
Johnny Murtagh's filly had lost her maiden tag at Bellewstown 10 days earlier and followed up in the first nursery of the season in Ireland.
Leading over a furlong out in the hands of Colin Keane, the daughter of multiple Group One winner Al Kazeem soon put the race to bed as she scored by a length and a quarter from Navajo Dreamer.
"She's a very game little thing. I thought the handicapper was being harsh on her, giving her 84 before today," said Keane.
"The step up in trip was ideal for her and she tries very hard for you. I'd say in time she will get an extra furlong.
"We'll see what the handicapper does now, but she might have to try to go and get a bit of black type."
