Joseph O'Brien notched back-to-back victories in the Moyglare "Jewels" Blandford Stakes, with Lumiere Rock the beneficiary of a smart ride from Dylan Browne McMonagle.
O’Brien, who won this race aboard his father’s Up during his riding career, saddled Above The Curve to land the Group Two contest 12 months ago and was enhancing his fine record in the Curragh contest with the Royal Ascot runner-up, who thrived in first-time cheekpieces.
The three-year-old was always well placed tracking the pace set by the frontrunning Red Riding Hood and when McMonagle asked his mount to set sail for home two furlongs out he had a willing partner.
The duo were clear entering the final furlong and although those from the rear, including favourite Jackie Oh and British raider Araminta, tried to close the gap, they had no answer as 6-1 shot Lumiere Rock galloped home to a three-length success over Jackie Oh in second.
O’Brien said: "She was running consistently well in real good company all season. She was just beaten in Ascot and just beaten in France the last day. She really did deserve her win in Group Two level and won today like a filly that will hold her own in Group One company as she gets older.
"She has two obvious targets for the autumn, one in France on Arc day and one in the fillies’ race in Ascot on British Champions Day.
"We’ll see how she pulls up and she’ll tell us which way we go. She’s an exciting filly and will hold her own in either of those two big races in the autumn.
"We think that potentially she’s a filly that can win a Group One so whether that is later this year or next year she’s a very solid consistent filly."
Richard Fahey's Native American (4-5F) demonstrated a great deal of promise when coming out on top in the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale Stakes at the Curragh.
The juvenile had not been seen since his debut at York in May, a novice race he won by a facile five and a half lengths over six furlongs.
Partnered by Colin Keane this time around, the colt made light work of the task in hand, streaking away from 11 rivals to cross the line two and a half lengths ahead of the runner-up.
Fahey said of his Wathnan Racing-owned youngster: "He was workmanlike, I thought, but he did it well in the end to be fair.
"He grew and just wasn’t scoping great so I couldn’t get stuck into him, but he’s done plenty of cantering and we were pleased with him. I’m sure he will improve again.
"He’s quite a nice horse, we do like him but he’s a work in progress.
"We won some sales races with Wootton Bassett and he ended up winning the Lagardere. That was in my mind before the race so we’ll see how he is and decide whether he goes or not.
"The jockey felt the ground was just dead enough for him and felt he wanted better ground."
Charles O’Brien’s Big Gossey won for the first time this season when taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF "Bold Lad" Sprint Handicap under teenage apprentice Robert Whearty.
The six-year-old, who claimed the same race in 2021, is a regular over sprint trips at the Curragh and was third over the same course and distance under Whearty last time out.
With a slicker exit from the stalls this time the pair were victorious, striking at 16-1 to land a valuable prize for owners the Allegro Syndicate.
Whearty said: "He was a bit unlucky the last day. He went up in the gates a small bit and I missed the break. I had a bit of ground to make up and probably used him up at the wrong time.
"I had a lovely position today and he travelled into it lovely. He had a bit of a look when he got there but thankfully he stayed going.
"It’s brilliant to be riding (this weekend), never mind have a winner."
The final race of the meeting, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF "Northfields" Handicap, was claimed by the Irish Cambridgeshire third Crystal Black (5-1JF).
