A review from the rest of Sunday's meeting at the Curragh.
Ballydoyle inmate foils gamble at the Curragh
Aidan O'Brien's Nephrite looked a smart prospect in foiling a gamble on Bird's Eye View in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at the Curragh.
There was a massive plunge on the Tommy Stack-trained Bird's Eye View, with JP McManus's filly backed down from 20-1 to 11-2 favourite.
However, she did not get a clear run through and had to settle for third place as Joseph O'Brien enjoyed a dream passage on fellow newcomer Nephrite (6-1) on the stands rail.
Leading a furlong out, the half-brother to July Cup winner Cape Of Good Hope powered home by four lengths, with Big Blue Spirit second.
O'Brien said: "First time in that ground you couldn't be sure, but he got through it.
"He was just ready to start and was working nicely at home. He could be a horse for something like the Group Three Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown at the end of October.
"He got six furlongs well there, even though he is a half-brother to a very quick horse.
"He travelled well throughout the race and is a good moving horse."
Should Nephrite go to the Killavullan on October 30, he is likely to me the John Oxx-trained Born To Sea, also impressive on his debut and a half-brother to the mighty Sea The Stars.
Maarek (15-2) relishes the testing conditions to land the spoils in the Irish Stallion Farms Joe McGrath EBF Handicap.
Kevin Ryan's Murura (7-1 favourite) looked like getting home first, but David Nagle's four-year-old was produced late by Wayne Lordan to score by a length.
Nagle said: ""That was super. He deserved to get a premier handicap as he's been knocking on the door.
"Wayne was absolutely super on him. We'll find a Listed race for him now. There is one over six (furlongs) here in a few weeks (Waterford Testimonial on October 9).
"He's a typical Pivotal in that he wants soft ground."
It was a second successive winner for the sire, who was also responsible for Nephrite.
Coral Wave (4-1) put up a gritty performance to come out on top in the C. L. Weld Park Stakes.
Declan McDonogh asked Patrick Prendergast's filly to go on two furlongs out and she battled bravely in the stamina-sapping ground to add this Group Three prize to her Listed success on this course two weeks ago.
Coral Wave held on by a neck from early leader Homecoming Queen with Princess Sinead third.
Prendergast, celebrating his first Group winner, said: "She loves that ground. She's changed a lot as she was a little bit free in the spring on her second run.
"As of late she's gone the other way and is very relaxed. It opens up a lot of doors and I wouldn't be surprised if she got a mile and a half next year.
"Declan said he always had a little bit up his sleeve. She was idling a bit.
"She had been a little free in the spring and the staff have done a great job settling her.
"She's still a little bit on the weak side and will go home to Grangecon Stud now for the winter.
"She handles soft ground but she's not a bad filly on good. She just handles soft better than some others.
"Next year over a mile and a half she might not need it soft as her stamina will come into play more.
"I'm thinking of the Irish Oaks for her."
Rock And Roll Kid (9-4 favourite) just denied Bay Knight to register a third course and distance victory in the Irish Pony Club Raceday Trophy.
The result could have gone either way in a dour tussle to the line, but it was Tony Mullins' six-year-old, ridden by his son Danny, who got the verdict by a short head.
Mullins senior said: "I hope it's the start of a good week for Danny as he goes on the boat tonight over to Alan King.
"He's going until Christmas. He can still claim for a while in England. I think he has about four or five winners left."
Mullins feels his winner has been harshly treated by the handicapper.
He said: "Off his ludicrous rating it's hard to know where to go. The Listed Navigation Stakes at Cork (October 15) is where he'll go next."
Trainer Dessie Hughes is more renowned for his jumpers but he enjoyed a victory at Ireland's Flat HQ with 11-2 favourite Sun Disc in the Derek O'Sullivan Memorial Apprentice Handicap.
