BOCCA Baciata earned a deserved return to the winner's enclosure after lunging late to land the Kilboy Estate Stakes at the Curragh.

A Group 3 scorer over the course and distance last season, the four-year-old was bidding to win at Group 2 level for the first time for trainer Jessica Harrington. She had run with great credit in Group 1 company on her two most recent starts, particularly when chasing home the brilliant Minding in the Pretty Polly Stakes three weeks ago.

Hugo Palmer's German 1000 Guineas winner Hawksmoor and Aidan O'Brien's apparent second string Earring duelled for the lead entering the final furlong, but the 4-1 winner picked them both up close to the line and passed the post half a length to the good. Earring beat Hawksmoor to the runners-up spot by a short-head.

Gordon Lord Byron claimed back-to-back victories in the Friarstown Stud Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh, the race carrying Group 2 status this time.

The three-times Group 1 winner looked a shadow of his former self on his first three starts of this season, but enjoyed a confidence-boosting victory in lesser company at Tipperary last month and was a 16-1 shot stepped back up in grade.

Billy Lee had Tom Hogan's veteran positioned close to the pace throughout and he knuckled down gamely inside the final furlong to score by half a length. The Dandy Nicholls-trained Sovereign Debt, a regular runner in Ireland, ran his usual solid race in second, ahead of the pacesetting Toscanini in third.

Gordon Lord Byron passed the post second in this contest 12 months ago, but was later awarded the race following the disqualification of Home Of The Brave.

Hogan said: "I thought if he was right he was well capable of beating those. I didn't think there was a Group 1 horse in against him and, on his day, he's still a Group 1 horse.

"In his work he showed that he was as good as ever. He's had lifelong problems with allergies, and in the spring we thought we were losing the battle. He'll probably come back for a Group 3 here in August (Phoenix Sprint Stakes), and he'll go back to Haydock for the Sprint Cup. If we get invites, he may go on his travels again."

Velveteen toughed out victory in the Qipco EBF Fillies Maiden at the Curragh.

A promising sixth behind subsequent Duchess of Cambridge Stakes winner Roly Poly on her debut at Naas in April, the Ger Lyons-trained youngster was a 9-2 chance on her return from a three-month absence.

Colin Keane edged to the centre of the track from stall one and Velveteen, owned by Qatar Racing, responded to his urgings in the last of six furlongs to prevail by half a length from 4-1 favourite Hunaina, with Mur Hiba a close-up third.

Lyons said: "She's a nice little filly and we have been waiting on the ground. It's nice to win and also with Sheikh Fahad (of Qatar Racing) sponsoring the race. There is very little of her, and it was a brave performance from a bad draw. We will try to get a stakes race for her, and I don't imagine we will be looking at her as a three-year-old."

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