Aidan O'Brien's Horatio Nelson displayed good battling qualities to maintain his unbeaten run, with a third victory in the featured Group 2 Galileo EBF Futurity Stakes at The Curragh today.
Although pushed along by Kieren Fallon from over two furlongs out, the son of Danehill responded well to Fallon's urgings and eventually stayed on well for a comfortable two and a half length success.
Afterwards, Fallon reported 'he is very relaxed but has a great attitude. He has everything it takes and looks to be a Derby horse.'
Cashmans Bookmakers reacted to the success by cutting Horatio Nelson's price for the Derby from 16/1 to 12/1 while he remains unchanged at 16/1 for the 2,000 Guineas.
British raiders have enjoyed a tremendous record in the Tattersalls Ireland Sale Stakes race and this year's renewal again went for export, with Chris Wall's Wake Up Maggie winning by a length from Richard Hannon's Cool Creek.
The 26 runners for the six furlong contest divided up into three groups with the first two finishers racing on the stands' side.
Wake Up Maggie made good headway to lead over two furlongs out and maintained her strong gallop all the way to the line.
Winning jockey Alan Munro, successful in the Ebor handicap earlier this week, had something to say about Wake Up Maggie, mentioning 'she is a calm and relaxed filly who can go on to better things now. She was in front for a long time and ran a bit lazily.'
Harry Rogers' Moon Unit claimed her fourth blacktype win, in the Listed Racing Post In Ireland Belgrave Stakes.
Brilliantly ridden by Michael Kinane, Moon Unit was held up last of the 13 runners before making steady progress from halfway, once switched to the outer.
With a furlong and a half to race, Moon Unit was only seventh but the daughter of Intikhab zapped her way to the front inside the final furlong for a neck win over Dark Cheetah.
Afterwards Rogers reported 'Michael gave her a great ride but did say that he thought he hit the front a bit too soon.'
He added 'we were disappointed with her here last time but she needs an ease in the ground and she just about got away with today's going. She may go for a Group 2 race in England soon while the Prix De L'Abbaye at Longchamp is another possibility.'
The Racing Post Poker Handicap provided an excellent result for the handicapper with six horses in a line with 100 yards to race.
The race eventually went to the father-son combination of Dessie and Declan McDonogh, with Diamonds For Luck, who eventually stayed on well to deny Hemaris by a length.
The opening Korean Racing Association EBF Maiden went to Jim Bolger's Rhythm'N'Roots, under Kevin Manning, who raced prominently throughout before leading inside the final furlong to hold newcomer Rockall Blizzard by half a length.
There was a nasty incident in the fillies maiden with Indian Rite, under Fran Berry, slipping up after breaking a leg three furlongs out, bringing down Redstone Dancer and Michael Kinane.
Both riders were taken away to Balnchardstown hospital although neither injury is though to be serious.
The race went to Dermot Weld's Happy To Chat, a 54th win of the season for Pat Smullen.
