THE PENTAGON showcased his classic credentials for next season by winning the Group 3 JRA Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown.

Aidan O'Brien's colt was already ante-post favourite with some firms for the Investec Derby before he was sent on his way the 4/11 favourite for this seven-furlong contest, and he did not disappoint as he followed up an eight-and-a-half-length Curragh maiden success with a solid victory under Ryan Moore.

The Galileo colt needed plenty of encouragement on the dash to the line, and fleetingly looked in a spot of bother, but he really knuckled down inside the final furlong to convincingly take top honours. Theobald finished second, a length and three-quarters adrift of the winner.

The Pentagon is now available at around 8/1 about winning the Group 1 Investec Derby at Epsom next summer.

O'Brien said: "Ryan felt that he was very raw, and it was only when he went past the line that he really got to straighten himself up. He said he went past the line and he took off.

"He's a very good mover and wouldn't mind fast ground. He could go for the Futurity (Curragh, August 20)."

Happily was operating on a different level to her rivals in the Group 3 Jockey Club Of Turkey Silver Flash Stakes.

Aidan O'Brien's daughter of Galileo claimed a Curragh maiden in June and really caught the eye to win this seven-furlong contest in style.

Easter Lily made most the running, closely tracked by Dawn Delivers and then Happily, the Ryan Moore-ridden 8/11 favourite. The latter was nudged wide as the field straightened for home and coolly gained a definitive lead she would not relinquish.

Happily showed marked improvement the further she went and was much too classy for Shalailah, who was also second behind the O'Brien inmate at the Curragh.

O'Brien said of the five-length winner: "You'd be delighted with that. She looks like she's come forward again. You could look at the Debutante (Curragh, August 20) and then the Moyglare (Curragh, September 10). We'll take it one race at a time but you'd imagine something like that."

FOUR-TIMER

Belgravia's stirring success in the Horse Racing Organisation Of Greece S.A. Race sealed a four-timer for Aidan O'Brien.

A good fourth in the Queen's Vase before struggling in the Curragh Cup, the son of Galileo had three rivals to beat as he dropped in class and distance.

Market leader Clongowes dictated terms to suit himself and wouldn't go down without a fight, but Donnacha O'Brien threw everything at Belgravia (9/4), who responded admirably to flash past the post a neck to the good.

The winning trainer said: "A mile and six might have been stretching him a bit (last time) and back to a mile and a half he was a little bit better.

"Because he's lazy, you think he's going to stay. Donnacha gave him a peach and he's hard to just drop on the line. We always thought that he would stay further but a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half is his trip."

Each of O'Brien's other three winners are also by Galileo: Happily, The Pentagon, and the pair he saddled for a one-two in the Frank Conroy Irish EBF Maiden

Those two did not finish in the order most would have expected as Delano Roosevelt (14/1) denied odds-on favourite Coat Of Arms.

All appeared to be going to plan when Ryan Moore sent the market leader for home inside the final quarter-mile but he was caught by his stablemate, who belied his lack of a previous outing to prevail by a head.

O'Brien said: "He's a lovely, big horse with a big engine, and galloped home well. He's by Galileo out of a very good mare, and is still very green. He's obviously a fair horse but where we go now is the next problem.

"There are no races for winners so you have to put them straight into stakes races. A horse like this wins a maiden and then they get pitched in too deep straight away. It would be great to have some of those novice races that they have in England, which are a great idea."

Winning jockey Wayne Lordan followed up when getting Magwadiri home in the shadow of the post in the Stunning Handicap. Paul Deegan's 12/1 shot battled hard to get the better of Cloudy Miss, getting the verdict by a head.

Island Affair offered glimmers of promise on her first couple of outings and stepped forward to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Claiming Race.

The 12/1 chance appeared booked for a minor role at best when front-running favourite Ballot Box kicked away, but Rory Cleary conjured a late rally out of Ado McGuinness' filly, who got up by a head.

Temasek Star (7/1) had only made the frame in one of his 14 previous attempts on turf but broke through with a determined display to fend off Emily Square in the SOREC Morocco Handicap.

READ THE FULL LEOPARDSTOWN REPORT IN THIS WEEKEND'S EDITION OF THE IRISH FIELD