Champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins landed another major staying race on the Flat when Digeanta prevailed in the Tote Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh.
Western Boy appeared to have things sewn up for Pat Fahy in the colours of JP McManus as he shot clear with over a furlong to run, but the challengers behind were just hitting top gear.
Digeanta (16-1) quickened up and powered past Western Boy under Billy Lee, who had already won on smart sprinter Fort Del Oro earlier on the card.
George Baker's Guard Of Honour made rapid late headway but the winner had flown, with three-quarters of a length separating them at the line.
Sea Pride finished third for Sir Mark Prescott, with Western Boy plugging on for fourth.
Lee said: "He was a bit slow out of the stalls the last day and never got into a rhythm.
"There wasn't much pace on today and I let him bowl along. He kept responding.
"He handled that ground well, but he's the sort of horse that would nearly handle any ground."
Earlier, Black Sea comfortably opened his account at the second time of asking in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at the Curragh.
An eyecatching fourth on his debut at Gowran three weeks ago, Aidan O'Brien's Galileo colt always looked in command under Ryan Moore.
Without having to get in any way serious, Moore put the race to bed inside the final furlong and the 5-6 favourite beat the 100-1 shot Red Rannagh by two lengths with Awtaad third.
Just 20 minutes earlier O'Brien had also won the opener at Limerick with the Barry Geraghty-ridden Tigris River (30-100 favourite).
O'Brien said of Black Sea: "He'd a nice run in Gowran. He was a bit free going to the start on that occasion and Seamie (Heffernan) dropped him in and he came home well.
"He settled well today and is a nice horse to have going into next year."
O'Brien and Moore looked sure to make it a double when Truth hit the front entering the final furlong of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden but she folded close home to finish only third behind Synopsis (6-1).
The Ger Lyons-trained winner began life in the Cheveley Park Stud silks and was a promising third for Roger Varian at Newbury some 177 days ago, but had not been seen since.
Bought for 18,000 guineas at the sales, she stayed on powerfully to win going away from Melanna by a length and a half.
Shane Lyons, assistant to his brother, said: "David (Spratt, owner) bought her at the Newmarket July Sales out of Roger Varian's yard. He is a master at picking out horses and we have always liked her since she came to us.
"That is as quick as she would want the ground and as sharp as she would want. I'd say a mile and a half could well be her ideal trip. We'll try to get her some black type."
Fort Del Oro (3-1) looks like taking high rank in the sprinting division next season after winning the Waterford Testimonial Stakes For The Defence Forces Cup.
Eddie Lynam's filly had shown decent form already when third to Mattmu and second to Lucky Kristale at York, and took another step forward in this Listed race.
Billy Lee was always cruising on the three-year-old, who was unraced at two, but Moore emerged from the pack on The Happpy Prince and looked a real threat.
To Fort Del Oro's credit, she battled well to win by a length and a half at the finish. Gathering Power, a stablemate of the winner, was third.
"This has been a lucky race for me," Lynam said.
"She did it well and has an entry next week in the big sprint at Ascot. If she is jumping out of her skin we will probably let her take her chance.
"She's a good filly and I think she will improve from three to four. She'll get seven furlongs.
"I've been waiting all year on soft ground for Gathering Power. He could run at Ascot. It's soft there at the moment and soft ground can bring horses together."
Best In The World has a lot to live up to given her name but she won the Listed Staffordstown Stud Stakes on just her second start.
Runner-up on debut, she was nevertheless sent off the 4-6 favourite and when Moore brought her alongside Rayisa entering the final furlong the result looked inevitable.
However, possibly showing signs of greenness, she needed to be driven right out to the line as Dolce Strega stayed on strongly from the rear and ran her to half a length.
By Galileo and out of a Group One winner in Red Evie, Best In The World is a full-sister to her O'Brien-trained stablemate Found.
"She came on nicely from Gowran and will make a lovely middle-distance filly next year," said O'Brien.
"Ryan said she feels like her sister (Found). You would have to be happy with that, and Ryan was kind to her."
