Turret Rocks recaptured her sparkle to claim Group 3 honours in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Blue Wind Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.

Jim Bolger's filly had not managed to get her head in front since landing the 2015 May Hill at Doncaster, although she raced exclusively at the top level last year.

She had three of her rivals ahead of her when only sixth in the Victor McCalmont Stakes at Gowran Park recently but that outing clearly blew away any cobwebs because she knuckled down well.

Laganore looked the likely winner but found less than expected, whereas the front-running Creggs Pipes battled gamely, but Turret Rocks wore them both down to beat the 7/4 favourite by three-quarters of length.

Bolger said: "The key to her is the good ground, and I was going to pull her out at Gowran. She will stay further and the long-term target is the Yorkshire Oaks.

"I don't think Vociferous Marina will run (in the Musidora Stakes) at York on Wednesday, and we will probably supplement her for the (Irish) Guineas."

ELLIOTT WINNER

Top jumps trainer Gordon Elliott proved his versatility as he recorded a first ever two-year-old winner in saddling Beckford to make a successful debut in the Foran Equine Irish European Breeders Fund Auction Maiden.

The son of Bated Breath quickened to lead inside the final quarter-mile and Declan McDonogh drove him out to beat Red Persian by three-quarters of a length.

Elliott said of his 10/1 scorer: "That's my first two-year-old winner and I'm not sure if I've even had a two-year-old runner before. It's also my first winner at the Curragh.

"I was nervous beforehand as I'd never had a two-year-old winner, but all his work was good and Declan had ridden him at home. I've three or four two-year-olds that I like and he is one of them.

"There are 20 in the syndicate and they are from Ireland and England."

Solar Halo (14/1) broke her duck on her return to action in the Plusvital Racing GenePak Handicap.

Beaten in all three outings as a juvenile, albeit in good company, the Willie McCreery-trained daughter of Harlan's Holiday was pitched into a fiercely competitive affair on her comeback.

Last week's Cork scorer Treaty Of Vienna, the 100/30 favourite, looked the likely winner when taking it up inside the final furlong but Billy Lee got Solar Halo to lunge late and she got the verdict by a nose.

McCreery said: "It's a nice way to lose her maiden tag but I thought last night with the 18mm of rain that the ground was gone for us.

"I told Billy to get a bit of cover and that didn't work out either, but she was very game and hit the line hard - as the Americans would say.

"It's great to train a winner this year for the Niarchos family again so hopefully we can keep it up."

LYONS AND KEANE DOUBLE

Black Sails (100/30) made the perfect start to her career with a clear-cut victory in the Curragh 'Where Champions Are Made' Race.

Another Batt and U S Navy Flag were the two juveniles with previous experience and disputed the lead until the former saw off the favourite just over a furlong out.

Black Sails was looming large, though, and Ger Lyons' Lope De Vega filly showed smart acceleration to stretch a length and a quarter clear.

Lyons said: "She's a lovely, raw filly and I think the world of her.

"I was planning to start her off in about four weeks' time but I took the view that the winners' races were not filling and if there was a winner in the race, he wouldn't give her a penalty and the fillies' allowance.

"I think she will progress into a stakes filly, and she will progress through the season. She could be anything at the moment."

Lyons and Keane completed a double when the three-year-old filly Elegant Pose, a half-sister to the prolific Brendan Brackan, made a winning debut in a one-mile maiden.

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