Thunder Moon ran out a hugely impressive winner of the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh on just his second start.
Joseph O'Brien's youngster is now joint-favourite with some bookmakers for next year's 2000 Guineas, such was the authority of his display.
The Group One contest was robbed of a little of its lustre when Aidan O'Brien's Royal Ascot winner Battleground was ruled out, but it still had the look of being the best race of its type this season.
There was no doubt Thunder Moon was being asked a big question after just one run - but the way he quickened up suggests he is a colt of the highest order.
Out of luck in the Moyglare half an hour earlier with Pretty Gorgeous, Declan McDonogh was briefly short for room when Master Of The Seas shot clear, but when a gap opened on the rail, Thunder Moon did not need asking twice and he quickly took advantage.
The son of Zoffany, sent of a 15-2 chance, soon put the race to bed and won by a length and a half from the staying-on Wembley, with St Mark's Basilica third and Master Of The Seas fourth. Lucky Vega endured a troubled passage and was unplaced.
McDonogh said: "He quickened very well. I was just caught on heels a little and had to bite the bullet and sit and suffer, but he showed great heart when he got a bit of room.
Thunder Moon's late surge is timed to perfection to land the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh. #rteracing pic.twitter.com/FC4knJLh3a
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) September 13, 2020
Donnacha O'Brien's Shale got the better of his brother Joseph's Pretty Gorgeous in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh.
The two fillies have clashed three times now this season, with Shale currently holding the upper hand with two victories to one.
Pretty Gorgeous was sent off the 11-10 favourite having comprehensively outpointed Shale when they last met in the Debutante Stakes.
Shale (9-2) had two and a half lengths to find with Pretty Gorgeous, but was always in the right place under Ryan Moore.
Declan McDonogh had Pretty Gorgeous close enough if she was good enough and the two of them had a real battle inside the final furlong.
But try as she might Pretty Gorgeous could not get past, and Shale provided her young trainer with another Group One at such an early stage of his career.
A daughter of Galileo, Shale was cut to 12-1 from 20s for next year's 1000 Guineas by Betfair.
"It was a lovely performance. She was one of the first off the bridle and at halfway I didn't think she was going to do anything, but she found plenty for pressure," said O'Brien.
Thunder Moon's late surge is timed to perfection to land the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh. #rteracing pic.twitter.com/FC4knJLh3a
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) September 13, 2020
Cayenne Pepper was rewarded for a string of consistent efforts with a stylish victory in the Moyglare "Jewels" Blandford Stakes.
Jessica Harrington's filly had shown smart form as a juvenile and went on to be fourth in the Fillies' Mile.
This year she had been second in all three of her runs, including the Irish Oaks, but had been beaten at a short price in the Give Thanks Stakes most recently.
Dropped back to 10 furlongs on this occasion, though, Shane Foley always looked in command.
He tracked Amma Grace into the straight before taking up the running over a furlong out and his mount powered through the line to take the Group Two honours by four lengths at 3-1. Aidan O'Brien's Magic Wand was a disappointing favourite.
Glass Slippers stayed on in determined fashion to add the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes to her Prix de l'Abbaye success of last season.
Kevin Ryan's filly had chased home Battaash at Goodwood last time out, having finished fifth behind the same horse at Royal Ascot.
She was actually one of the first off the bridle as Nunthorpe runner-up Que Amoro and Keep Busy went at it hammer and tongs from an early stage.
With two furlongs to run Que Amoro was back-pedalling, but the John Quinn-trained Keep Busy was still at the head of affairs with Maid In India and another Quinn runner, Liberty Beach, also in there fighting.
But Tom Eaves was beginning to get a tune out of Glass Slippers (9-2) against the far rail as they approached the final furlong and she hit the front with 100 yards to run. Keep Busy, running in Doreen Tabor's silks for the first time, was a game second, with Sonaiyla staying on for third.
