Dual Derby-placed Casual Conquest finally got his Group One reward with victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.
Placed in both the English and Irish Classics, the Moyglare Stud-owned colt beat his stablemate Famous Name and give trainer Dermot Weld a notable one-two.
Leading all the way under Pat Smullen, the 11-4 shot stormed five and a half lengths clear of Famous Name, with Lush Lashes third.
Weld said: ‘He deserved that. He's a very good horse from last year. On his reappearance it was very firm ground at Newmarket and my concern today was whether he'd handle the extremely opposite on testing ground. He did it well and I'm very pleased with him.
‘The Arc will be his target in the second half of the year. It's the one race Mr Haefner (owner of Moyglare Stud) would love to win and nothing would give me greater pleasure than to try and win the Arc for him.
‘He'll have a summer off, and we will train him for the Arc. The Irish Champion would be an obvious race for him and I look forward to the second part of the year.’
Of Famous Name, Weld added: ‘He's a good horse as we know and was unlucky to get beat a head in the French Derby.
‘We just may back track in distance with him. Maybe nine furlongs could be better for him and be his optimum trip.
‘They are the only two four-year-old colts I have at home and it is a shame they had to take each other on but this is a great race which I have won three or four times.’
L'Impresario put up a promising performance when making a winning debut in the Boylesports 143 Shops Nationwide Maiden.
The Jim Bolger-trained half-brother to Antonius Pius had plenty to do when Eytarna kicked for home early in the straight. However, he quickened nicely for Kevin Manning and the 6-1 shot pulled clear in the final 100 yards to score by two lengths.
Eytarna just held the odds-on Changingoftheguard for second place.
Bolger said: ‘He's a good horse and when they come from behind like that, they have a bit of class.
‘He'll go down the Listed route now and ideally for a winners of one race as he looked green.
‘He came to me last year but he was a big horse and needed time.’
Alshahbaa (7-2) looked good as she made a successful racecourse bow in the boylecasino.com European Breeders Fund Maiden.
Declan McDonogh brought the Kevin Prendergast-trained filly with a smooth run to lead just over a furlong out.
She ran away from her rivals to win by four lengths from Grace And Virtue with Macnas third.
Prendergast said: ‘I thought Alshahbaa would run well but didn't expect her to win so far!
‘I've no plans for her yet, but being by Alhaarth she would probably like a dig in the ground.’
Johnny Murtagh followed up his victory on Again in the Irish 1000 Guineas by completing a quick double on Sesenta in the Boylesports Best Price Guaranteed Handicap.
The in-form jockey was at his strongest on the 2-1 favourite as he got Willie Mullins' charge home from Speed Ticket by a head.
Murtagh completed a treble with a late surge on the Aidan O'Brien-trained Grand Ducal (7-1) to grab the Group Three Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes by a head from Alaivan.
‘He's been off a good while and it was nice to get him back. He's a tough solid horse and Johnny gave him a great ride,’ said O'Brien.
‘He showed he gets a mile and a quarter well so there are plenty of races open to him and it looked as though he could get a mile and a half.’
