MINDING stamped her class on the Group 2 Camelot Irish EBF Mooresbridge Stakes at Naas.

The standout filly of her generation having won the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks, she also beat the boys over a mile in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day.

She will face much sterner tasks than this as the season unfolds, but it was pleasing to see Aidan O'Brien's four-year-old look in such good form so early in the campaign.

Jim Bolger's Moonlight Magic tried to take her on for the lead early, but Ryan Moore soon established an advantage which his mount would never relinquish.

Without being asked too many questions, Minding took a few lengths out of the field and the 1-3 favourite extended in pleasing fashion. Moonlight Magic came home a clear second best as Moore allowed Minding to coast across the line.

CLASSIC POTENTIAL

Rehana set herself up for a tilt at the Irish 1,000 Guineas with an authoritative success in the Group 3 Canford Cliffs Athasi Stakes.

Mick Halford's filly finished a close-up third in a Guineas Trial on her reappearance and was a 6/4 joint-favourite with Dermot Weld's year-older Rose De Pierre. The two had it between themselves from some way out but it was Rehana with Shane Foley on her back who pulled two and three-quarter lengths clear.

"It went to plan. She's a lovely filly and she had some good form at the top level," said Halford. "It's just nice for her to get an opportunity there and she loves that ground.

"We said we'd keep it simple with her. It probably wasn't ideal to make the running but she doesn't mind as she's straightforward. Ground is important to her and if she gets her ground she'll take her chance in the (Irish) Guineas.

"It's beautiful ground there and she has such an action that she floats over it. We'll see how she is come the time. That will do her confidence good. She's had a couple of races against top-class fillies and even her comeback run was good.

"It's amazing at this time of year, if the fillies get their head in front it does a lot for their confidence. She's been training very well.

"On that ground it's easier. Her fitness is quite good as well, with the run under her belt. When they enjoy that ground it's a big help."

When asked if she could step up in trip in time, Halford responded: "No. She'll go a mile, I'd imagine, she's not short of pace."

TETRARCH STAKES

Doctor Geoff looks a gelding with a big future after winning the Listed Power Irish EBF Tetrarch Stakes on his seasonal reappearance for Ger Lyons and Gary Carroll.

With hot favourite Peace Envoy locked away with nowhere to go, Carroll brought the 8/1 chance down the outside with a winning run.

"He's a horse we've always liked. When he won his maiden David (Spratt, owner) said he had one of the best speed figures of maiden winners last season," said Lyons.

"I just thought seven furlongs on that ground might be a tad sharp for him, but Gary said he was only going through the motions waiting for the gap. When he got the gap he sprinted clear.

"He'd have to come into the reckoning for something like the Jersey. To win a Jersey you want to be able to get a mile and have the speed for seven. He falls into that bracket."

ROYAL ASCOT

Dali entered the Royal Ascot reckoning when confirming the promise of his debut second by going one better in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained juvenile hit the crossbar on his introduction at Dundalk and was the 4/6 favourite to go one better.

Ryan Moore kept it simple, making the running before his mount quickened nicely over a furlong out and although the newcomer Hawaam tried to go with him, Dali was always holding him and scored by a length.

"You'd be delighted with that. He came forward from his first run and he'll come forward again," said O'Brien. "Ryan liked him and we'll hopefully get another run into him.

"I think five or six suits him, he has plenty of speed, when he learns what he's at. He was still swapping and changing a good bit so he still doesn't really know. He would have learned plenty today."

When asked if he could be an Ascot horse, O'Brien said: "He could be and you'd like to get another run into him before that."

WARM ORDER

Alpha Centauri was a warm order for her debut in the Coolmore No Nay Never Irish EBF Fillies Maiden and didn't disappoint.

Continuing the fine form of Jessica Harrington, the 2/1 favourite was always to the fore in the hands of Colm Donoghue and kicked away inside the final quarter-mile. Actress gave chase but she never really looked like laying down a serious challenge to the daughter of Mastercraftsman, and Alpha Centauri passed the post with two and a half lengths in hand.

Harrington said: "I must have a mole in my yard because everyone knew about her! What was worrying me was the size of her. She's the biggest two-year-old I have.

"When she came to me before Christmas she weighed 530 kilos, which is heavier than most of the jumpers. I sent them back three times to weigh her because I said 'you must have got it wrong'. She still weighs over 500 kilos and it's amazing how big she is. She just has a relentless stride.

"She has plenty of pace but you'd imagine she'll be better over longer as she's out of a Caerleon mare. We'll see where we go now. She loved that ground."

IMPROVING FILLIES

Virtudes (8/1) showed little on her debut on the opening day of the season but stepped forward significantly to run out an impressive winner of the Panoramic Restaurant Maiden for Willie McCreery and Billy Lee.

Miss Power (7/1) is a filly on an upward curve and showed a decent change of gear to claim top honours in the www.naasracecourse.com Handicap, coming with a sustained run from the rear to deny Go Kart by a head.

READ THE FULL NAAS REPORT IN NEXT WEEKEND'S EDITION OF THE IRISH FIELD