Quarter Moon swooped late to justify favouritism in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh yesterday to give champion trainer Aidan O'Brien his 14th Group One winner of the current campaign.
Held up for a late run by Michael Kinane, Quarter Moon sprinted up the favoured stand rails just as her well-backed stablemate, Sophisticat, was headed in the centre of the course by Dress To Thrill, in the colours of the sponsors.
"She is some traveller; she only raced from a furlong down and probably learned a lot more again today," said O'Brien.
The winner is the daughter of the remarkable Sadler's Wells, who is jointly owned by Sue Magnier.
In a race in which David Loder's 5 to 1 chance Seba faded dramatically to finish only ninth, Sophisticat looked the more likely scorer of the O'Brien pair when Seamus Heffernan sent the American-bred to the front with Dress To Thrill making a gallant attempt to beat a wide draw as well.
But Kinane had bided his time and produced the favourite with a perfectly-timed challenge. The filly responded immediately to a crack of the whip to hit the front in the dying strides for a three-quarter-length verdict that augurs well for the future.
"Quarter Moon has always looked special and, although she is in all the good races this season, she may not run again. We will just see how she takes today's race first," added O'Brien.
Champion jockey Pat Smullen, who rode the runner-up Dress To Thrill, said he got "a lovely run" through the race but was unable to beat his high draw (14 from 17 runners).
Kevin Prendergast landed the Irish Cambridgeshire, as 10 to 1 chance Osprey Ridge got up in the last couple of strides to defeat the front-running 25 to 1 chance Montpelier Street. Runner-up in the mile event a year ago to Silverware, Osprey Ridge gave 19-year-old local girl Victoria Hughes her third winner of her career as she continued to make significant progress for her boss Kevin Prendergast.
Dermot Weld and jockey Pat Smullen doubled up in the early races as Steaming Home and Chill Seeking stepped up on their previous performances for decisive victories. Steaming Home (7 to 4) reversed previous Tipperary form with second favourite Minashki in the Listed Go And Go Round Tower Stakes and could run next in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.
Johnny Murtagh picked up a two-day suspension (September 11th and 12th and forfeited his riding fee as the stewards were "not satisfied he had ridden to attain his best possible placing" on Kropotkin, caught close home for fourth in the Lisieux Rose Maiden by Dutsdale Dancer.
Aidan O'Brien gave an upbeat report ahead of Galileo's Irish Champion Stakes bid at Leopardstown next Saturday. "So far, so good," he said at the Curragh yesterday.
