GOBI Desert continued his education as he came with a late run to take the Listed Legacy Stakes at Navan.

Brick By Brick made a bold bid from the front, but Golden Spell began to wear him down on entering the final furlong.

However, as befitting a man at the top of his form, Colin Keane - who is embroiled in a terrific tussle with Pat Smullen to be crowned champion jockey - got Gobi Desert (3/1) rolling to give Ger Lyons another decent prize. Brother Bear was the unplaced favourite.

Lyons said: "He hated the ground. Colin blamed himself the last day for riding him too prominent, but rode him the way he wanted to today.

"You have to ride him cold, but he's a seven-furlong minimum horse on better ground. I should think that will be his final run (this year) and hopefully we will hold on to him. He will be a nice horse next year on better ground going further.

"All he did today was stay, he was as green as grass, hated the ground. You couldn't have been more negative and the only positive thing we can say about the experience is that he won."

TIGHT FINISH

The drop in trip helped Texas Rock run out a game winner of the Listed Waterford Testimonial Stakes.

Michael Grassick's six-year-old was running over a mile just three starts back, yet the stiff six-furlong trip was right up his street.

The race changed in complexion with 100 yards to run when Alphabet's stride began to shorten and it became clear she was going to be caught.

The cavalry were charging with Son Of Rest, Maarek and G Force all in the chasing pack, but the Fran Berry-ridden Texas Rock (16/1) prevailed in a tight finish.

Grassick said: "I was going to run him in the Concorde last weekend, but the ground was so bad I'd only tear the heart out of him. We said we'd take a chance at six (furlongs) and Joe (Keeling, owner) was quite keen to give it a go.

"I thought he might get a bit outpaced, but he was always comfortable and he was so genuine. The finish is testing here and we felt that would play into his hands.

"He will probably go for the Knockaire Stakes at Leopardstown over seven furlongs and that will be him for the year."

"I have eight in training at the moment and this fella has been a great flag-bearer for the yard over the last few years. I bought his brother the other day from Germany."

Bye Bye Baby justified 5/4 favouritism in the Listed Staffordstown Stud Stakes.

Winner of a Newmarket maiden last time out, Donnacha O'Brien kept things simple and bounced out in front on the Galileo filly.

Allowed an easy time of things in front, nothing got close to Aidan O'Brien's charge, with Madeleine Tylicki's Coeur D'Amour taking a big step forward in second.

The winning rider said: "She's done it nicely. She got it easy up front and quickened up well. She tries hard and is taking her racing well.

"Hopefully she will be a nice middle-distance filly next year."

Lord Erskine sprang a 25/1 surprise in the two-mile Irish Cesarewitch, taking the premier handicap by two and a half lengths in the hands of Conor Hoban.

Chased home by the Colin Keane-ridden Snow Falcon, the Harry Rogers-trained winner was completing a hat-trick after easy 12-furlong wins in heavy ground at Roscommon and Listowel.

The four-year-old gelding may now head for the Naas November Handicap.

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