Fallen Angel bounced back from Newmarket disappointment to provide trainer Karl Burke with a second Classic success in the space of an hour in the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh.
A Group One winner at the Kildare track in last season's Moyglare Stud Stakes, the daughter of Too Darn Hot finished only eighth as favourite for the 1000 Guineas three weeks ago, but showed her true colours on Irish soil just 45 minutes after stablemate Darnation had won the German 1000 Guineas in Dusseldorf.
Fallen Angel was the 11-4 market leader to reward those who kept the faith and after a smart start raced on the pace from the off in the hands of Danny Tudhope.
The challengers were stacked up in behind entering the final three furlongs, but Burke's grey found another gear once asked to do so and was well on top as she passed the post with two and three-quarter lengths in hand over the previously unbeaten A Lilac Rolla, with Opera Singer also running with credit in third on her first start since her scintillating display in the Prix Marcel Boussac in October.
"I was confident we would see a different filly from Newmarket. I was pleased when the rain came to be fair. She just keeps galloping and stays very, very well," said Tudhope.
"She is very versatile ground wise and takes everything that comes in her stride."
White Birch continued his brilliant start to the season by claiming a first Group One victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
Third behind the reopposing Auguste Rodin in the Derby last year, John Joseph Murphy's grey made a successful start to his four-year-old campaign in the Group Three Alleged Stakes in April before following up over the same course and distance at Group Two level in the Mooresbridge three weeks ago.
Dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin was the marginal favourite at 11-10 as he looked to bounce back from a disappointing run in Dubai, but while he moved menacingly into it in the straight, White Birch (15-8) was going even better in his slipstream in the hands of a motionless Colin Keane.
White Birch takes the Gold Cup in The Curragh ahead of favourite Auguste Rodin. Three wins from three for the four-year-old who has matured over winter.
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Once asked to extend, the grey showed smart acceleration to put three lengths between himself and Auguste Rodin, with Crypto Force a further eight lengths behind in third.
"That couldn't have gone better. We got behind the two we wanted to be behind (early)," said Keane.
"Ryan (Moore, on Auguste Rodin) brought us as far as we could then we just quickened up well.
"He cantered into it. He has plenty of pace but would have no bother going a bit further.
"He has matured massively from three to four."
