Aidan O'Brien continued his 2001 Irish Classic domination when he saddled three of the first four in the Entenmann's 1,000 Guineas led home by Imagine (20/1-16/1), a first Irish Classic success for Seamus Heffernan (28).
O'Brien, responsible for the first 3 in the 2,000 Guineas 24 hours earlier, was understandably thrilled after Hefferenan sent Sue Magnier's daughter of Sadler's Wells to the front at the distance to defeat Crystal Music (9/2f).
Toroca, and Sequoyah filled the 3rd and 4th places to complete another memorable Irish Classic weekend for the Ballydoyle team.
'She handles an ease well and she'll head straight to Epsom for the Oaks next, ' said O'Brien of Imagine, who was cut to as low as 6/1 from 20's for the Vodafone Oaks next month.
'The horses are all running well and that is the main thing. The dream lives on with Gailileo for the Derby,' concluded the Ballydoyle maestro, who last completed the Irish Guineas double in 1997, via Classic Park and Desert King.
Seamus Heffernan (28) whose only other Classic success came in India, remarked, ' It's great to ride my first Irish Classic win and this filly will certainly get further.'
Fantastic Light continued his rich pickings around the world when he landed the IR#200,000 Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup under Frankie Dettori at the Curragh on Sunday afternoon.
Winner of the Man O'War Stakes at Belmont Park in America and the Hong Kong Cup last season, the five-year-old was sent off a warm 5/4 fav. with Breeders Cup Turf hero Kalanisi next best on 7/4.
But it was the 7/1 British raider Golden Snake that threw down the biggest challenge in the concluding stages with Pat Eddery's mount only going down by a neck to the Godolphin market leader.
Kalanisi finished a never threatening 3l back in third while best of the domestic challenge was Bach (5th) with Muakaad last of the six.
After Dettori performed his customary Group 1 flying dismount in the winners enclosure, Simon Crisford, Racing manager to Godolphin, said:
'He's very special and a fantastic horse. He'll probably go for the Prince Of Wales next while the King George is his main summer target. He'll have a big campaign in Europe and is entered in all the big races ranging from 1 < to 1 =m'
John Murtagh continued his recent rich vein of form when he conjured up a renewed effort on Pugin (5/1-6/1-5/1) to defeat March King in the Silver Stakes.
Aidan O'Brien nominated the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot for his juvenile colt Monarchoftheglen after the son of A P Indy quickened up at the distance to forge ahead for a narrow victory over gallant market rival Rum Charger.
'He's a beautiful horse and Mick (Kinane) educated him as he had to get himself out of a bit of trouble out there. Mick also said he wants much better ground,' said O'Brien.
Dermot Weld's top-weight Caumshinaun (9/2-7/2f) and Pat Smullen justified good support to run out the 1L victor of the 6f handicap while Irish Empire and Eddie Ahern scored by a similar margin in the 27 runner 1m handicap for Michael Grassick.
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