Minnie Hauk defied a major market drift to score a facile success on her seasonal return in the Group Two Clem Murphy Memorial Irish EBF Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh.
The daughter of Frankel enjoyed an excellent three-year-old campaign last season, completing a Group One hat-trick with victories in the English, Irish and Yorkshire Oaks before being beaten a head by Daryz in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
However, with runners from Aidan O'Brien's yard often needing their first run of the season, Ryan Moore's mount took a significant walk in the market.
As short as 4-11 with bookmakers overnight, Minnie Hauk was eventually sent off the 4-6 favourite.
Dundalk maiden winner Edward Hamilton, who has been desperately disappointing in two subsequent outings, was the Ballydoyle second string and Wayne Lordan adopted pacemaking duties when the gates went back.
Lordan set steady rather than strong fractions as he forged more than 10 lengths clear at one point, and it briefly looked as if the 125-1 outsider in the field of six may have slipped the field.
But Moore was in no mood to panic on Minnie Hauk, back in fourth, and she was eventually urged along with hands and heels to reel in Edward Hamilton in the final furlong to score by a length and three-quarters.
2023 Irish Derby runner-up Adelaide River stayed on for third on his first start for Joseph O'Brien after two years with Kris Lees in Australia.
The winning trainer said afterwards: "That was lovely. You'd be delighted with that.
"The plan was to come back here and we wanted a nice, even pace so she could get back into gear a little bit. We didn’t want a dawdle.
"Ryan was very happy with her. He said he just let her point her toe a bit in the last furlong. The Tattersalls Gold Cup is the plan and then on to Ascot, that’s the perfect prep for it."
Back with a BANG 🎆
— The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) May 4, 2026
Minnie Hauk runs down her pacemaker with ease to land the Group 2 @IrishEBF_ Mooresbridge Stakes on seasonal return.@coolmorestud | @Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/v6RgC2g7yy
Kensington Lane could head to the Irish 1,000 Guineas next, with overseas ambitions on the agenda following her victory in the Coolmore Auguste Rodin Irish EBF Athasi Stakes.
Donnacha O'Brien’s chestnut was last seen finishing well behind the subsequent 1000 Guineas winner True Love in the Priory Belle Stakes, and started somewhat overlooked at 14-1.
Under Chris Hayes, she appeared to appreciate the quicker ground, defeating Paddy Twomey’s Black Caviar Gold by three-quarters of a length.
Her nadler said afterwards: "She won well back on nicer ground. I thought she was way too big a price today but she is a Group Three winner now.
"She’s in the Guineas, so she’ll probably go there. She has a lot of gate speed so she’s one that could end up in the US, in one of those 10 furlong Grade Ones later on in the year. That could suit her. She is a smart filly and she is improving.
"I think definitely, if she goes abroad on a turning track, a mile and a quarter will be no problem to her. That’s what I’m thinking at the minute."
Causeway continued to impress when landing the Coolmore Stud Henry Longfellow Irish EBF Tetrarch Stakes.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained Wootton Bassett colt was last seen winning the Madrid Handicap at Naas in March and started the 9-4 favourite for his second run of the term.
He was well placed throughout the Listed contest and strode on to take victory by two lengths from Andab to potentially set up a bid for the Irish 2,000 Guineas.
O’Brien said: "I’m very happy with him. He came forward from the first day and was very comfortable at the extra furlong as well.
"He got home very well. I’d imagine he’ll have no trouble stepping up in trip when the time comes. We just didn’t want to start him up in bad ground. We just wanted to get a run into him for this.
"You’d have to be very happy really I think. You love the way he finished off and, probably time-wise, I think it’ll be a good enough run race."
Velozee could be Royal Ascot-bound after a convincing victory in the AES Recycling First Flier Stakes.
Paddy Twomey’s Sioux Nation filly lined up for the Listed contest a 4-1 chance having won her only prior start in April, with Billy Lee taking the ride in a small field of four.
O’Brien’s New Yorker was the 4-7 favourite, but it was Velozee who came to the fore with an impressive three-and-a-half-length triumph ahead of What A Girl Wants with the favourite a further six lengths back in third.
Twomey said: "Billy thinks six furlongs will be no issue to her, so we might look at maybe the Albany. She could go back to Naas in a couple of weeks and run again.
"She is a strong filly. She has had one bit of work since she won in Cork.
"She’s uncomplicated and I think she’s good."
