HYDRANGEA stuck on stoutly to claim Group 3 honours in the Ballylinch Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes at Leopardstown. The daughter of Galileo may not have been Aidan O'Brien's first string, but she knuckled down in admirable fashion to come out on top.

Hydrangea (5/1) was second in two Group 1s as a two-year-old and finally opened her pattern-race account with a likeable performance. Always prominent as Connacht Girl made the early running, Hydrangea set sail for home in the hands of Padraig Berry and held on by a head from stable companion Winter, to complete a classic trial double for O'Brien.

It was a breakthrough victory for Beggy, who said: "I've won a few Premier Handicaps but that is my first group-race win. She jumped out and went an honest gallop, and found another bit in the final furlong."

O'Brien was satisfied with all his four runners, especially the winner, who staked a claim to be in the trainer's team for the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.

"She's a very solid filly, and had the form in the book," he said. "Padraig gave her a very good ride, and had her in a very good position. She will be in the mix for Newmarket.

"I'm happy with how they all ran. Some were a bit green. Ryan (Moore) thought his filly (Promise To Be True) would come on a lot and Seamus said the same of his filly (Rain Goddess). Wayne (Lordan) was delighted with his filly (Winter), and said she just got a bit tired in the last 50 yards and was a bit fresh early."

BALLYSAX STAKES

Joseph O'Brien upstaged his father Aidan by saddling Rekindling to win the P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes.

Trained last season by the now-retired David Wachman, Rekindling (16/1) made his first run for the young trainer a winning one as he took the Group 3 spoils.

Legitimus made the early running until the turn for home, where Dubai Sand took over but Rekindling was produced on the far rail by Wayne Lordan to hit the front after Douglas Macarthur had made his bid. Sticking to his guns, the High Chaparral colt held Douglas Macarthur by half a length with Yucatan another half a length away in third and Capri fourth - O'Brien senior being responsible for the second, third and fourth.

"We were expecting him to run well as he'd been working nicely at home. He did a good bit of work last week. We thought he'd be placed but we didn't think he'd win," said the winning trainer.

"He looks like he could be a nice staying horse. He even got stopped in his run and I was surprised that he got away with it."

ALL-THE-WAY WIN

Orderofthegarter confirmed the promise of his impressive maiden success when running his rivals ragged with an emphatic all-the-way win in the Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes.

Seamie Heffernan set out to make the listed race over a mile at Leopardstown a true test and Orderofthegarter was a willing partner as he put his rivals to the sword in no uncertain manner.

Travelling beautifully in front, the Aidan O'Brien-trained 5/4 favourite kept up the gallop in tremendous style and passed the post three and three-quarter lengths ahead of his stablemate Taj Mahal, who made good late headway. O'Brien will now consider the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas for the son of Galileo.

"He's made nice progress from Naas. His two runs last year were second to two good horses of ours so we probably shouldn't be surprised with what he's doing," said the Ballydoyle trainer. "Seamus was positive on him. He gets a mile well and should get a mile and a quarter. He could be an Irish Guineas horse, and he goes on any ground.

"At the moment we are looking at running Churchill at Newmarket and Caravaggio in France. That is Plan A, but things can always change."

DEBUT

Irishcorrespondent made the headlines on his racecourse debut as he showed a good turn to foot to land the Leopardstown 'Summer Bundle' Maiden at the Dublin track.

Shane Foley delivered the Michael Halford-trained colt on the outside to make his challenge and the 6/1 shot sprinted away from the opposition to score by three and a half lengths from the 3/1 favourite Music Box. So You Thought shaped well in third place, a further length and a quarter away.

Halford said of his Investec Derby entrant: "He's been working well and we thought he'd improve from the run. He has a touch of class about him, and an attitude and temperament to go with it. An exciting prospect.

"He's only been on grass once and we took him away to Dundalk one day just to give him a day away from home. He'd go another two furlongs no problem.

"On that performance we will have to look at a stakes race next. You don't win maidens like that without being able to step up."

READ THE FULL LEOPARDSTOWN REPORT IN NEXT WEEK'S EDITION OF THE IRISH FIELD