Free Eagle© Photo Healy Racing
< The Grey Gatsby (7-1) sprung a surprise by beating hot favourite Australia in the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
Kevin Ryan's French Derby winner was second to Aidan O'Brien's star at York last month but connections weren't frightened to take him on again.
Australia set sail for home and looked to have matters sewn up, but Ryan Moore went in pursuit and collared him on the line.< Fiesolana (5-1) struck at the highest level for the first time in the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes.< Wee Jean appeared to have stolen a march until Rizeena wore her down, but the gaps came at the right time for Billy Lee on Fiesolana, who quickened smartly to get up by half a length.
Australia stamped himself as a top-class prospect in the John Deere Juvenile Turf Stakes 12 months ago, and his stablemate John F Kennedy (4-7 favourite) followed in his hoofprints with an impressive display.
Already favourite for next year's Derby prior to this Group Three, he sauntered to the front over a furlong out and Joseph O'Brien only had to keep him up to his work to cross the line with three and a quarter lengths in hand of Tombelaine < Free Eagle hadn't been seen since chasing home Australia in the aforementioned race on this day last year, but he returned with a bang in the KPMG Enterprise Stakes.
Swooping round the outside on the turn for home, Dermot Weld's 9-10 market leader stormed seven lengths clear at the line in the style of a top-class colt.
Weld looked like following up when Mustajeeb threw down a challenge to Bow Creek (7-1) in the Clipper Boomerang Mile, but Mark Johnston's British raider wouldn't give up and fought on for a half-length success.< Toe The Line (7-1) collected the big prize on offer in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Petingo' Handicap, getting the better of Cassells Rock and Silwana in a thrilling finish.< Tamadhor had hit the crossbar in her two starts leading into the Ballylinch Stud EBF Fillies Maiden but made it third-time lucky at odds of 5-1.
