Aidan O'Brien may have found his Investec Derby candidate after US Army Ranger made a winning debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at the Curragh.
Well-backed for the Classic through the week, he was not even favourite for the 10-furlong contest as the dogs were barking for Weld's Aasheq (11-10).
It looked like favourite-backers would go home happy as Pat Smullen cruised to the front with two furlongs to run, but Ryan Moore was just beginning to ask a question of the well-bred Ballydoyle newcomer.
Despite the testing ground US Army Ranger (15-8) picked up impressively to win going away by three-quarters of a length, in a race O'Brien's Ruler Of The World won before going on to Epsom glory in 2013.
Paddy Power cut the winner to 12-1 from 20s for the Derby, with Coral 14-1 having been 25-1 earlier in the week and RaceBets 10-1. The son of Galileo is set to be seen in a trial next.
O'Brien said: "Pat (Smullen) rode him in some work here two weeks ago and liked him, but I was a bit worried beforehand (with all the money for Weld's horse).
"We thought he was very nice last year but he had a small problem and didn't run. He has only done half-speed work for Donnacha (O'Brien), but he has worked well with horses that have Group-race form.
"I told Ryan to drop him in and educate him. He has a great pedigree, but has only won a maiden. That was the most serious bit he has ever been asked to do.
"He could go for something like the Derrinstown or to Chester for education. He'll only have one more run if he goes to the Derby."
The Mcgregornator caused a shock in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
Adrian Keatley's Bushranger colt finished a long way behind the favourite Callender when the pair met two weeks ago and on that basis was sent off at 16-1 under Gary Carroll.
Everything appeared to be going to plan for Fran Berry on Callender and he was three lengths clear on entering the final furlong, but the testing ground began to take its toll.
In contrast, The Mcgregornator was staying on strongly and doing all his best work at the finish, getting on top by half a length at the line.
Keatley said: "He lost his action coming out of the stalls the last day and Gary minded him. The more you get stuck into him, the more he finds.
"He liked that ground and was probably the most effective on it today.
"He'll get six furlongs, and maybe even seven."
Ceol An Ghra toughed it out to win the coral.ie Bet 5 Get 20 In Free Bets EBF Fillies Maiden.
In three outings last season she had managed a second-place finish and appeared to want it that bit more than Dermot Weld's Waitaki in the finish.
Wearing a hood, Ceol An Ghra found plenty for Kevin Manning and the 3-1 chance saw off the 7-4 favourite by half a length in the six-furlong affair.
"Her trip is a mile, but we thought this would take a bit of getting today. We will be looking at stakes races with her now," said winning trainer Jim Bolger.
Mr Right (12-1) was a rather fortunate winner of the coral.ie Bet & Watch Irish And UK Racing Live Handicap from the fast-finishing Master Speaker.
Ridden by Moore, Master Speaker got into all sorts of trouble on the rail, and the 3-1 favourite had to be switched into the middle of the field to get a clear run.
By then Ronan Whelan had shot clear on Mr Right, who has been in great form on the all-weather at Dundalk.
Whelan was able to ease down on the four-year-old, allowing Master Speaker to close to within half a length of the Johnny Levins-trained winner.
"He's matured beyond all recognition after his break. He's a horse that we have always thought a lot of, and the dream is alive now," said Levins.
"The likes of the Scurry and the Rockingham are races we can look at. He's a very smart horse."
