Precise followed in the footsteps of last year's winner Lake Victoria by leaving Newmarket disappointment in the past to land the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas in decisive fashion.
Sent off favourite for the opening fillies Classic of the season despite a less than ideal preparation, a lack of fitness ultimately told on the Rowley Mile as Wayne Lordan and True Love stormed to 1000 Guineas glory.
Jettisoned by Ryan Moore who switched to the Newmarket winner and 4-6 favourite for the Curragh equivalent, it proved a different story this time around for the daughter of Starspangledbanner who was the mount of Lordan and sent off 4-1 to add to her impressive juvenile haul.
Precise mows down the field to beat favourite True Love and win the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas for Aidan O'Brien and Wayne Lordan pic.twitter.com/ZUpM78vqJW
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 24, 2026
With True Love following the pace set by Charlie Appleby’s raider Abashiri amongst the cluster on the far rail, it looked like Moore’s decision to ride the favourite would prove justified as she hit the front travelling well heading down to the furlong marker.
However, she had no answer to Precise’s blistering acceleration inside the final furlong as Aidan O’Brien’s charge claimed Classic redemption by two and a half lengths.
Almaqam registered the top-level success Ed Walker had been craving with an utterly brilliant display in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
Often left despairing over ground conditions with his star middle-distance performer, who ended last season by finishing third behind Calandagan and Ombudsman in the Champion Stakes, Walker headed into the lion's den of the Curragh for the five-year-old's first outing of the campaign and was duly rewarded.
Sent off 13-2 in the hands of Kieran Shoemark, the bay's rider was bullish from the off as he rolled forward and got his mount in the prime position to accelerate for home in the straight.
Almaqam wins the Tattersalls Gold Cup as Minnie Hauk disappoints.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 24, 2026
Big success for Ed Walker and Kieran Shoemark
1,000 Guineas coming up soon on @rteone and @rteplayer pic.twitter.com/HTxomkUIuO
He then advertised every ounce of his class to lead home an all-British one-two-three, with George Scott's Bay City Roller two lengths behind in second and Roger Varian's Saddadd, Almaqam's half-brother, in third.
As well as it being Almaqam's first strike in Group One company, it was Shoemark's first since Friendly Soul's Prix de l'Opera triumph on Arc day in 2024 and a first for Walker since Makarova's Abbaye triumph on the same Parisian afternoon.
As a result of the victory Almaqam is now 6-1 for the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot with Coral.
City Of Memphis enhanced her growing reputation as Billy Lee proved he is once again the man for the Lanwades Stud Stakes.
Fifth in the Irish 1,000 Guineas after just one win in a maiden on this day 12 months ago, Paddy Twomey's daughter of Sioux Nation was adding her third straight success since when obliging as the 2-1 joint-favourite in this Group Two event.
It was a win that gave Twomey a third triumph in the race in the last five years, but that was eclipsed by his jockey Lee who was lifting the trophy for a fifth time in six years.
Twomey ruled City Of Memphis out of a trip to Royal Ascot next month but there will be other opportunities to grow her CV as the year goes on.
Sun Goddess proved appropriately named on a sunkissed afternoon as she booked her ticket to Royal Ascot with an impressive display in the opening Revamp Conservation And Restoration Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.
Second to stablemate Carry The Flag on debut at Naas she was sent off 4-11 favourite in the hands of Ryan Moore to go one better and duly obliged, scorching to a decisive five-length success to give Aidan O'Brien a third win in this particular race in the past four years.
The winner was made 2-1 favourite for the Albany Stakes at the Royal meeting, with the six-furlong contest confirmed as the daughter of Sioux Nation's likely destination.
