Giovanni Canaletto rocketed into the Investec Derby picture as he produced an eyecatching turn of foot to easily put the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden at Leopardstown to bed.
Aidan O'Brien's charge is a full-brother to last year's Derby hero Ruler Of The World and still figured among the entries for the Racing Post Trophy at the beginning of the week, and was sent off the 4-7 chance to build on his debut third at Navan.
Seamie Heffernan sat in midfield early and still had a number of horses ahead at the turn for home, but he swept to the front with a powerful surge and careered away to beat Alcatraz by six and a half lengths.
Heffernan said: "He's completely asleep. When he got a bit of light he woke up, as if to say 'what do you want me to do?'. I gave him a crack and he went right away.
"He's doing it so easy at home. We like him."
Many bookmakers were quick to alter their prices on the premier Classic, and Joseph Burke of RaceBets said: "Giovanni Canaletto was deeply impressive in putting what looked a decent field to bed at Leopardstown. As a result, he is 20-1 (from 33-1) to follow in the hoofprints of his recently retired full-brother, Ruler Of The World, and win the Investec Epsom Derby."
Betfred gave the winner a 20-1 first-show quote for the Qipco 2000 Guineas.
The O'Brien suffered a shock reverse when Steip Amach caused a real upset in lowering the colours of Royal Navy Ship to land the Group Three Killavullan Stakes.
Royal Navy Ship was sent off the 1-6 favourite after beating Jacobean to score on his debut, but Heffernan never looked truly comfortable on him at the head of the four-runner field.
Steip Amach, the 12-1 outsider, was last of the quartet on the turn for home, but Jim Bolger's filly responded well to Kevin Manning's urgings, cutting down the leader close home before going on to score by three-quarters of a length.
Bolger said: "She got bogged down in Navan, and the ground was a bit better here. Seven furlongs or a mile doesn't really matter to her. She'll probably start off next year in a Classic trial back here.
"He's (Vocalised, sire) the only source of Bold Ruler blood in Europe."
Bolger and Manning secured a double when Answered got the better of a thrilling duel with Vote Often to land the Trigo Stakes.
Both fillies were reappearing after lengthy absences, with Irish 1000 Guineas third Vote Often just ahead as the pair took up the lead two furlongs out.
Neither horse would back down in a head-to-head battle up the straight, but it was Answered who just found the most close home, the 9-2 chance eventually scoring by a neck.
Bolger said: "He missed most of the season with an injury but it's good to get him back. He'll handle better ground but wouldn't want real summer ground. I'd expect he'll improve again."
Smart hurdler Katie T is booked for a return to that discipline following her win in the Leopardstown Club Members Handicap.
The Kevin Prendergast-trained mare posted fine efforts over timber last term that included third to Annie Power at Punchestown, and was winning for the first time on the level, having been sent off at 8-1.
Ridden by Chris Hayes, the five-year-old stuck her head out to get the better of favourite Cailini Alainn by half a length.
Hayes said: "She's a good mare and I thought on her jumps form she was well handicapped on the Flat.
"She took a bit of a heave, but her class got her through.
"She'll go hurdling now. I don't know what he has in mind for her, but I do know she has an entry in the Morgiana Hurdle."
