The return to action at The Curragh today by Second Empire puts the spotlight once again on a colt whose career has so far been an explosive cocktail, the ingredients of which have been three parts achievement and two parts failure, the mixture served up with a liberal dash of controversy.

At the end of last year, he ruled supreme at the top of the Irish two-year-old classification, even if the Group race successes had both been recorded in France. While the French star Xaar was raiding the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, Second Empire plundered the Grand Criterium at Longchamp.

His Epsom Derby preparation was dogged by training problems and he had been taken out of the betting when Aidan O'Brien sprang a surprise by electing to run him in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. Here Christy Roche was widely and, in the light of subsequent events, unjustifiably criticised for never putting him into the race with a winning chance against Desert Prince. Michael Kinane took over at Epsom, but a rushed preparation allied to a delayed take off on the morning race, combined to destroy his chances.

After that he was put away for the autumn, and with a previous choice of engagements between the Juddmonte, the Prix Jacques Le Marois and the Royal Whip, Aidan O'Brien again did the uexpected by supplementing him for the Ridgewood Pearl Desmond Stakes.

Although this is a Group Three race and thus of lower calibre than any of the other engagements held by him, it would be unfair to describe it as a simple confidence-restoring exercise.

As a Group One winner, Second Empire has a 10lb penalty, which means that over a mile at this time of the season, he is asked to give weight to any unpenalised older horse.

That said, though, nothing less than a clear-cut win would restore his battered reputation and set him in line for a campaign abroad. On a Curragh programme that offers a particularly fine dish of quality flat racing, Sunshine Street can profit from Second Empire's absence from the Royal Whip to upgrade himself to a Group Two success to put along side his placing in the first four in the English Derby.

Sheikh Mohammed would have been proud of the courage shown by his colt, Windward Rock, at Galway, for inside the final furlong, Michael Kinane's mount, Immovable Option, looked certain to score but Windward Rock, responding to John Murtagh's urgings, forced himself back into the lead near the line.

That is an attribute that will ensure that he will not be easily be beaten in the Flame of Tara Tyros Stakes, despite the presence of course and distance winner Musif.

For the nap I take Galletina in the Summertime Handicap to confirm course and distance superiority over Musical Mayhem, even if her chances would be improved by a cut in the ground. At the Oaks meeting, however, she found a splendid turn of acceleration to go six lengths clear.

The first two days at Tramore have already produced a share of shock and punters will operate with due caution for the final two sessions.

The absence of a declared jockey for Patriot Games in Sunday's feature race, the Richard Power Handicap Hurdle indicates that this may be an absentee, and Jessica Harrington could profit through Jason Titley's mount, Sparkey Smith. Mrs Harrington should also be in the firing line for the featured Queally Group Handicap with the sponsor's own runner Space Trucker.

There are some more predictable looking bets at Dundalk tomorrow, notably Jazz King for a hurdles hat-trick and Colombian Green in the Kevin Cumiskey Memorial Handicap.

Winona was yesterday ruled out of the Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks. Last month's Irish Oaks winner has suffered a mild bout of colic and was taken out of Tuesday's Group One race at the five-day declaration stage.

But John Oxx is confident of his filly making a full recovery and will aim her at the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp on September 13th.