DECORATED Knight was a decisive winner of the Group 3 ICON Meld Stakes at Leopardstown. Narrowly denied in the Group 3 Diomed Stakes at Epsom on his previous outing, the four-year-old made amends here in no uncertain fashion.

Now with Roger Charlton, having spent his early days with Roger Varian, he was ridden with the utmost confidence by George Baker.

James Doyle appeared to have made a race-winning move when Royal Hunt Cup hero Portage (5-6 favourite) swept into the lead but Baker had everything covered on the outside. Without asking for maximum effort, Decorated Knight (9-4) quickened clear impressively and was value for a good bit more than the two-length winning margin.

Joseph O'Brien saddled his first blacktype winner as Arya Tara continued her rapid progression in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Stanerra Stakes at Leopardstown.

Since breaking her duck at the fourth attempt at Tipperary at the end of May, the daughter of Dylan Thomas hasn't looked back, following up in the Apprentice Derby at the Curragh and in a Roscommon handicap.

She was sent off the 6-4 favourite to successfully take the step up in grade in her stride and showed tenacity to match her quality by keeping Avenante a length at bay in the hands of the trainer's sister Ana.

Intern showed a pleasing attitude on his racecourse debut to just prevail before surviving a stewards' inquiry in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden at Leopardstown.

David Wachman's well-supported 7-2 chance knuckled down well in the closing stages to account for the more experienced Drake Passage by a head, with Right Honourable unlucky in a close-up third.

Winning jockey Wayne Lordan said: "He's raw. He has always shown us a little bit at home. He jumped out today and raced behind the bridle, I was squeezing him the whole way. He made it a little difficult for himself when he got to the front by rolling around.

"He's potentially a nice horse and hopefully he'll learn plenty from today. I'd say he'll get a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half. He stays well and is very genuine."

Sportsmanship led home an Aidan O'Brien one-two in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

Sent off the even-money favourite after going close at Naas recently, the War Front colt was always in a prominent position and showed willing to run right the way to the line, beating stable companion Courage Under Fire, who caught the eye in the closing stages, by three-quarters of a length.

O'Brien said: "He has a lot of speed and won't mind staying at five or six. He could be a horse for Goodwood. He's pacey and will be better in a really strong-run race. The second wouldn't mind going up to seven. Colm (O'Donoghue) rode him first time and said the same thing."

Seville Star (6-5 favourite) only made his debut last week, when just denied at Navan, but derived enough benefit from it to go one better with the minimum of fuss in the Hermitage Green Maiden.

Three Majors was only fifth at Killarney on Wednesday but proved his durability by landing the ICON Apprentice Handicap at odds of 7-1.

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