Modigliani's victory in yesterday's Tetrarch Stakes inspired queries about the wellbeing of the Saturday's 2,000 Guineas fourth, Minardi, the general strength of Aidan O'Brien's classic team, and little else.

That was because the Group Three contest, as a trial for the Entenmann's Irish 2,000 Guineas in 18 days' time, appeared inconclusive, to say the least. Less then two lengths covered the five runners, Modigliani was the complete 14 to 1 outsider and apprentice Paul Scallan couldn't claim. Having said all that, Modigliani presented himself to be shot at from the start. But it hardly spoke volumes for the classic potential of the 2 to 5 favourite Mozart that he couldn't overhaul his stable companion.

O'Brien excused Mozart by reporting the favourite may have needed his second start of the year, and said of Modigliani: "You must remember he is a half brother to Rodrigo De Triano and this is his first time over seven furlongs. We've always thought a lot of him. Maybe they're all smart!"

Dutiful nods preceded questions about Minardi and an upbeat O'Brien hardly had the air of a man crushed by finishing fourth to Golan, before confirming last year's top juvenile a possible runner in the Irish equivalent.

"Minardi had no luck in running. Everywhere he went, he got into a pocket and he only got going in the last two furlongs," the Ballydoyle trainer said. "Hemingway is also a possible for the Guineas and Ascot and Galileo is a likely runner in the Derrinstown Trial next weekend."

Dermot Weld-Pat Smullen team landed the two listed races with the 1,000 Guineas hope, Cool Clarity, and Muakaad.

The latter easily coped with Bach in the Mooresbridge Stakes and will next go for the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup.

Cool Clarity won just as smoothly from the O'Brien pair of Rose Gypsy and Imagine in the Athasi Stakes, and Weld commented: "She's smart and settled it in a couple of strides like good horses do. I'm confident we'll keep the Guineas in Ireland this year. There are some very good Irish fillies."