Fascinating Rock, nose band, in control at Leopardstown© Photo Healy Racing
Fascinating Rock continued his love affair with Leopardstown as he routed the opposition in the Group Three KPMG Enterprise Stakes over a-mile-and-a-half.
Dermot Weld 's four-year-old colt made it four from five at the Foxrock venue with this authoritative victory.
He was sent off at 2/1 as punters made Answered the 15/8 favourite.
Pat Smullen settled him in third behind front-running John F Kennedy and Answered in second. As they raced towards the home turn, nothing was going better than Fascinating Rock on the outside.
When the field straightened for home, he motored past Answered and took up the lead from John F Kennedy.
Smullen pushed him out and he thundered away from his four opponents with a furlong and a half to negotiate.
The race was over in the final furlong as Panama Hat stayed on for a never threatening second at 5/1. He was six lengths adrift of the winner at the line.
Dermot Weld said: "He's a class horse. He ran some excellent races in the spring and had a lovely summer break - maybe too good!
"He needed the run in Windsor more than I thought. It was a trifle disappointing but the benefit was that it brought him on and gave me the idea to go further.
"He just struggled on the track at Windsor as it was a little bit sharp for him.
"We tried a mile-and-a-half today and I thought he got it very well so it opens up so many options for him. "I don't have any definite plans. He has a entry in a Group One over a mile-and-a-half in Germany on the first week in November and that was one of the reasons we ran here today.
"I'll speak to the owner but I'm pretty confident he'll stay in training. He's a very progressive horse and was very impressive today.
"When you look back at the Tattersalls Gold Cup on his day he is a very good horse."
Answered was eased to come in last of the five runners.
This success gave Weld and Smullen a Leopardstown double as they also took the preceding race with Silwana
Paddy Power cut Fascinating Rock from 20/1 to 14/1 for the Champion Stakes.
K.J. Manning, rider of Answered, trained by J. S. Bolger, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount lost his action.
The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Answered, trained by J. S. Bolger, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be lame post race.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
