Preseli gave Michael Grassick and Eddie Ahern their first Group 1 success in yesterday's Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh and also kicked sand in the faces of those who didn't believe the evidence of their own eyes.
The still unbeaten filly had previously beaten Amethyst by three parts of a length at Leopardstown yet Amethyst started at half of Preseli's 9 to 1 SP yesterday.
The Curragh-based Grassick, who has been training for 22 years, maintained his characteristic amiability in the face of such an insult and merely said: "I wasn't surprised. It's Aidan O'Brien and Michael Grassick, simple as that. People don't believe what they see - but a few took advantage!"
Amethyst got a close view of Preseli beginning her winning run as the two brushed outside the final furlong. At that stage, the favourite, Littlefeather, had secured a gap behind the pacesetting Torgau but couldn't take advantage and Giles Bravery's Cherry Hinton winner briefly looked set to win.
However, Ahern got Preseli into overdrive in the closing stages and the filly swooped late to eventually win snugly. The 23-year-old rider was afterwards cautioned by the stewards over the incident with Amethyst.
"My biggest wins before this were on San Sebastian at Ascot and Bally Pride here in the Goffs race but this is brilliant," grinned Ahern, the former champion apprentice (1997), but the coolest customer on the Curragh seemed to be Grassick.
"She just keeps finding and improving. That's it for this year but the plan next year will be the Irish Guineas and the Irish Oaks. I think she will be an Oaks filly because she has been finishing well in all her races," said Grassick, who trains the filly for the Welshborn but American-based Neil Jones.
Bravery was thrilled with Torgau's performance and she will now drop back a furlong for the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket. "That was amazing. She was a bit unlucky because there was not much pace and she had to make it but that's the nature of the horse. She'll win the Cheveley Park," said Bravery.
A drop back to six furlongs is also likely for Littlefeather whose trainer, Mark Prescott, said: "She's well named because she's a sweet little thing. The gap appeared at the right time but the extra furlong found her out and she couldn't quicken through it."
Grassick now has a genuine classic filly to look forward to over the winter and added: "I've had three Group 3's since I started in 1977 but this is my first Group 1. It's been a long time."
One other rider who will remember yesterday is 18-year-old Jerry O'Dwyer who picked the Irish Cambridgeshire to win his first race on the 25 to 1 shot Seefinn. The winner was having her first run of the year but still managed to make all to beat Royal South and Golden Fact.
"I'm delighted for Jerry who is a great young fella and a hard working kid. Seefinn has had joint problems and I was reluctant to run her in the Cambridgeshire but it was a safe track and a straight mile," said trainer David Hanley.
O'Dwyer is from Annacarthy in Co Tipperary and was having just his ninth ride. "I won't say what I said about him when I saw him making the running but Jerry said nothing wanted to go near him and you have to admire his initiative," added Hanley.
Warrior Queen is also on course for the Cheveley Park after making all the running in the Round Tower Stakes to justify heavy market support. "She relaxed today. At York there was just no pace," said Aidan O'Brien.
The other black type event, the Matron Stakes, was brilliantly won by Dazzling Park who shot clear in the straight to win easily from Carambola. Afterwards Jim Bolger described Dazzling Park as doubtful for next Saturday's Champion Stakes, describing her as "possibly a miler."
Bolger added: "I've had no luck with her and if she was as good on Guineas day as she was today, she would have won. She has needed time and she has some American entries at the end of the season."
