Weekend Racing Recap: Emerging Stars at the Curragh You Can't Miss Saturday was another crackerjack day of racing at the Curragh with some notable winners and standout efforts in defeat on a high-quality card at Headquarters. We're taking a look back at some of the performances on Saturday's card that may merit following in the future. The Publican's Son Mission Central won the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes for Aidan O'Brien and Wayne Lordan having made all and got most of his rivals in trouble some way out, but he was in need of the line when it came and the real eye-catcher in the race was The Publican's Son in second spot. The Joseph O'Brien-trained colt by Beau Liam was having his first outing. He went off at odds of 40/1 and was ridden in rear by Ronan Whelan for most of the contest. He started to pick up from around the furlong marker and was flying home at the line to be beaten just under a length. Connections had paid $200,000 to acquire him at the breeze-up sales in the spring and this was a hugely encouraging first run. His pedigree is on dirt and he can likely be expected to improve on decent ground over a longer trip, a point embellished by the way in which he was finishing his race off. He is very much one to keep an eye on wherever he goes next and part-owner Kevin Blake was amongst those delighted by his opening gambit, taking to social media to suggest: "What a debut from The Publican's Son! He ran to a Timeform rating of 101. I can't imagine many 2YOs have run to higher than that on debut this year." Red Letter Red Letter was expected to win the Snow Fairy Fillies Stakes and did just that for Ger Lyons and the Juddmonte team. Gary Carroll was in the plate with Colin Keane at Sandown and he did an excellent job with a patient ride. Red Letter came home strongly and hit the front only inside the final half-furlong, ultimately going away from her rivals at the finish. She had won a Listed race in Killarney last time on soft ground over a mile. She made the step up into Group 3 company here, over an extra furlong and the manner of her win suggested the three-year-old Frankel filly will have more still to offer over slightly further. The Blandford Stakes over 1m2f during the Irish Champions Weekend back at the Curragh presents as a possible option for a horse that ran well in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at HQ during that meeting 12 months ago. Lyons is looking forward, already with an eye on next season. "She's crying out for that trip but is probably only ready for it now," said Lyons. "You can see it in her physically, she's only filling her frame. "We'll have a look at the Blandford. The ground is very important, she needs ease in the ground. We have a lovely horse to look forward to next year." Queen Of Hawaii Another weekend, another big winner for Dylan McMonagle. He partnered Queen Of Hawaii to land the Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF Stakes, the first of the Group 3s on the card. Things got very messy off the final bend in the mile contest and McMonagle admitted he believed his chance had gone but his filly really picked up late on to go and win from Moments Of Joy, ultimately putting daylight between them. The Fillies' Mile at Newmarket is under consideration for the thrice-raced daughter of Kingman, who is very much on the rise. "She looks very smart and you'd have to be excited about her," said O'Brien. "She went through the line strong and Dylan said that she always feels like there is more in the locker."
