Fields Of Athenry and Seamie Heffernan © Photo Healy Racing
A fantastic day for Aidan O'Brien was capped when Fields Of Athenry made every yard of the running to land the Group Three Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown.
The 8-15 favourite had Roheryn for company early on as they pulled well clear of the remainder, but the market leader had seen that rival off by the home straight.< Edelpour came from well back to challenge close home, but Fields Of Athenry was not to be denied under Seamie Heffernan, winning by a length and three-quarters and providing Aidan O'Brien with his third success out of a fantastic five on the night.
O'Brien's five-timer started when Lieutenant General got off the mark at the fourth attempt with a facile success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
The 4-5 favourite had shown some very classy form in his three defeats to date and after breezing past Star Of Kings two furlongs out, he flew clear before being eased down by Joseph O'Brien, winning by two and three-quarter lengths.
Joseph was on board for the second win, too, as The Crewmaster impressed in the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Maiden.
The four-timer made it three wins for Joseph too, as Ivanovich Gorbatov (11-4 favourite) quickened well to blow his rivals away in the Racecourse Of The Year Handicap, breezing into the lead over a furlong out and running on well to beat Venezia by two lengths.
Fresh from a promising debut at Galway, the son of Mastercraftsman was always prominent and he breezed clear once given his office in the straight, beating Foolish by three and a quarter lengths.
Joseph made it four on his father's fifth winner, as Hallmark (3-1) eased to victory in the concluding Live At Leopardstown Maiden.
Edward Lynam's Captain Power (7-2 joint-favourite) produced a terrific turn of foot to land the Leopardstown Summer Membership Handicap under Robbie Downey, while the apprentice jockey made it a double on the day when driving Garvan Donnelly's Equation Of Time (8-1) to victory in the 'Stunning' Apprentice Handicap.
