Great Minds justified strong market support to foil British raider Musical Comedy in the Listed Woodlands Stakes at Naas.
In a field depleted by the absence of Anthem Alexander and Eisenhower, the Tommy Stack-trained five-year-old added to his progressive profile in knuckling down to get the better of a strong challenge from Pat Dobbs on the Richard Hannon runner, owned by the Queen.
Outsiders Dikta Del Mar and Coto did much of the work up front before fading, with Maarek making good late progress for third.
Stack's son and assistant Fozzy said of the three-quarter length winner, who was sent off the 6-4 favourite: "He likes the ground and is improving. Hopefully it will keep raining!
"I wasn't worried about dropping back to five furlongs. The ground is the key to him.
"The Greenlands is the obvious place to go, but he will have to be supplemented. We can see what the ground is like nearer the time."
Argentero looked a youngster with a bright future in winning the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden.
The Ger Lyons-trained colt (5-1) was short of room at a crucial stage, but when the gap came half a furlong out the son of Zoffany quickened in some style to score by three and a quarter lengths Touch Of Frost.
Lyons said: "The word I'd use to describe this horse is 'professional' - from the first day he came in. Everything we asked him, he did it.
"I told Colin (Keane) to take his time and teach him his job. He handled that ground, but would want better ground.
"Obviously at this time of the year you'd be thinking about Royal Ascot, and hopefully he's one of those.
"Blood Moon (won at Dundalk) will go to the Curragh on Monday, and I'd like to go for a winners' race next as well with this fella. He'll learn plenty from that with all the hustle and bustle he got into between horses."
Madame Thunder (20-1) was a surprise winner of the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden.
Leigh Roche threaded a way through on the rail inside the final furlong to win by a cosy length from the always-prominent Rue Bonaparte and China Eyes.
Winning trainer Darren Bunyan said: "I didn't expect her to get her head in front as she's a proper good ground filly. On that performance she could be anything.
"She will come back here on 1 June for the six-furlong Listed race. Hopefully it will be Ascot after that if she keeps going the right way.
"The ground was my only concern as she looked very ground dependent at home. She's a very smart filly, and you won't see the best of her until she's going six or seven (furlongs).
"The (Straight To Victory) syndicate is well named as this is their first runner. They are a group of bankers from London and Singapore, and are a great bunch of lads."
