Gstaad gained ample compensation for his Newmarket second when storming to victory in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas .
Aidan O'Brien's son of Starspangledbanner, who won at Royal Ascot and the Breeders' Cup at two, found just George Boughey's Bow Echo too good in his first crack at Classic honours earlier this month, but like Field Of Gold 12 months ago, turned Rowley Mile silver to gold at the Curragh.
With Karl Burke's Greenham Stakes winner Alparslan leading the field along with Power Blue also towards the head of affairs, Gstaad was always just off the pace in the hands of Ryan Moore.
Moore asked the 4-11 favourite to take control entering the final quarter mile and with those in behind unable to match his blistering acceleration, Gstaad readily quickened clear for an impressive three-length success over the Charlie Appleby pair of Distant Storm and Pacific Avenue.
Ryan Moore steers Gstaad to victory in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh #RTEsport pic.twitter.com/VE8DjndVFK
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 23, 2026
"He had a nice draw (eight) really - he was sat out there on the wing, but he was comfortable. Nothing was able to sort of get in his way and we kept it very uncomplicated," said Moore.
"I just kept asking him to creep forward from halfway and he's got quite an extravagant stride and when able to use it, he's an impressive horse.
"He did (deserve that), he has been second a few times and has never run a bad race. Sometimes things went against him last year.
"He has come back and he is a big, scopey horse and looks like he can progress further.
"His mind is in an unbelievable place and there is no one better at that than Aidan. I remember him when he was a two-year-old and the way he has brought him along - he has got more confident this horse and that is down to the trainer."
Comanche Brave announced himself as a leading player in the sprint division with a stylish romp in the Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes.
Fifth in the Irish 2,000 Guineas before finishing third in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot last term, Donnacha O'Brien's son of Wootton Bassett only returned to sprinting on his most recent outing when set the formidable task of downing Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising.
Not disgraced when fifth at Sha Tin, he was sent off 7-4 favourite back on home soil and having tracked the pace in the early stages, loomed up ominously for his rivals inside the final furlongs before breezing to a going-away two-length triumph from Big Gossey in the hands of Ryan Moore.
Purview (above) outlined his potential with a sublime performance in the Sherry FitzGerald Country Homes Orby Stakes.
Dermot Weld's son of Kingman has always been held in the highest regard and gave the high-class Delacroix a fright on his first start at three before ending last season on a high with a comfortable victory in Cork's Listed Navigation Stakes.
Returning at the same level but upped to a mile and a half, the Juddmonte-owned colt was sent off at 4-1 in the hands of Colin Keane and after travelling stylishly throughout, delivered a commanding six-length verdict when asked by his rider to seal the deal.
It was Maurice Ahern's Perry Mason (16-1) who laid down the law to his rivals to win the Keadeen Hotel Handicap in the hands of Leigh Roche.
Ahern said: "I'm delighted. He's due that and he was knocking on the door in some big handicaps.
"He gave me my first winner here last year. I'm training exactly 12 months and he's been good to me."
Watch the Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival on Sunday from 2.05pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player
