MINNIE Hauk lived up to her star billing at the Curragh on Monday, when claiming the Clem Murphy Irish EBF Mooresbridge Stakes.

The three-time Oaks winner went to post a 4/6 shot in the Group 2 contest, on her seasonal debut, and had to chase down front-running stablemate Edward Hamilton in the 10-furlong event.

She quickened up smartly to grab that rival inside the final furlong and was a cosy winner at the line as she scored by a length and three-quarters under Ryan Moore.

“That was lovely. You’d be delighted with that,” said Aidan O’Brien afterwards. “The plan was to come back here and we wanted a nice, even pace so she could get back into gear a little bit. We didn’t want a dawdle.

“Ryan was very happy with her. He said he just let her point her toe a bit the last furlong.

“The Tattersalls Gold Cup is the plan and that’s the perfect prep for it.”

O’Brien and Moore were completing a double on the card, following the victory of Causeway in the earlier Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Tetrarch Stakes.

The Wootton Bassett colt led a furlong from home in the listed contest and the 9/4 favourite kept on strongly in the closing stages to score by two-lengths from Andab.

“We’re very happy with him. He came forward from the first day and was very comfortable at the extra furlong as well,” said O’Brien.

“I’d imagine he’ll have no trouble stepping up in trip when the time comes. We just didn’t want to start him up (in trip) in bad ground. We just wanted to get a run into him for this.”

Asked if he could be an Irish Guineas horse, O’Brien added: “Possibly. It’ll depend on what will happen with the other colts. He’s ready. He’s done his prep for it now.”

Kensington leads a double for Donnacha

DONNACHA O’Brien emulated his father by also saddling a double at headquarters.

Kensington Lane bagged a valuable blacktype success when running out a game winner of the Coolmore Auguste Rodin EBF Athasi Stakes.

The family-owned filly led three furlongs from home, under Chris Hayes, and stuck on gamely late on to repel Black Caviar Gold by three-parts of a length.

The 14/1 winner (33/1 in the morning) holds an entry in the Irish 1000 Guineas and O’Brien said: “She’ll probably go there. She won well, back on nicer ground. I thought she was way too big a price today. She actually ran well on soft ground in Leopardstown (when seventh to True Love). She is a Group 3 winner now.

“She has a lot of gate speed so she’s one that could end up maybe in the US, in one of those mile-and-a-quarter Grade 1s later on in the year. That could suit her.”

Paddy Harnett was praised by the winning trainer having partnered Spinning Around to victory in the preceding Keadeen Hotel Irish EBF Fillies Handicap.

The Australia filly led over a furlong out in the seven-furlong contest to record a convincing length-and-a-quarter success over Green Carrera.

Lovely ride

O’Brien said of the 8/1 winner: “She works like a stakes filly at home and always has. Paddy gave her a lovely ride today.

“I think good ground is important to her. It’s nice to get another win into her. I thought, if she gets in, handicap-wise, the Sandringham would be perfect for her at Ascot.”

Harnett went on to complete a double himself when partnering the Natalia Lupini-trained Summer Island to success in the PG Duffy & Sons Citroen Apprentice Handicap.

The well-backed 7/2 favourite led a furlong and a half from home and soon asserted for a cosy three-length success over Comfort Line.

Lupini said: “The ground was probably a little bit soft for him the last day, good ground here today suited him better.

“Paddy gave him a nice even ride, very straightforward. He picked up nicely and galloped to the line. Hopefully, he’ll be consistent in his grade.”

VELOZEE proved a class act in the AES Recycling First Flier Stakes when powering away from her rivals in the closing stages.

The Paddy Twomey-trained filly cruised into the lead a furlong-and-a-half down and the 4/1 shot soon asserted for Billy Lee to post a three-and-a-half length win over What A Girl.

“Billy thinks six furlongs will be no issue to her, so we might look at the Albany. She could go to Naas in a couple of weeks first,” said Twomey of Gary Matthews’ filly.

“She is a strong filly. She has had one bit of work since she won in Cork. She’s uncomplicated and I think she’s good.”

Gamble

In the other two-year-old race on the card, the opening Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden, Immortal Guard landed a significant gamble.

The Persian Force colt travelled nicely for Donagh O’Connor in the six-furlong contest and was produced to challenge a furlong-and-a-half from home.

He stuck his head in front inside the final furlong to record a half-length win over Otherworldly.

The winner was as big as 22/1 in the morning and went to post a 7/2 shot.

“I was very happy with this horse at home. He shows a lot of class, a lot of ability. I just waited for him to strengthen because he is still a little bit weak,” said trainer Robson De Aguiar.

“Whatever he does today he will improve a lot. We’re thinking big with him.”

Genesis not for passing

THE Mick Mulvany-trained Genesis produced a game front-running performance to land the finale on the card, the Treacy Group Supporting Newbridge Handicap.

Michael Foley’s gelding duelled with Reposado for most of the six-furlong trip and found a bit more late on to secure a half-length success, under Gary Carroll.

“He’s a very fast horse. He had loads of problems but we have ironed them out I think,” said Mulvany of the well-backed 8/1 winner.

“We’d be hoping that he goes on and improves now. The secret to him is good ground. He actually wants it a little bit faster than it was out there.”