ZODIAC Bear’s progression shows no sign of stopping after the rangy four-year-old made a successful return to a mile in the Dubai Duty Free Celebration Stakes, providing Johnny Murtagh with his third win of the three-day meeting.

An impressive winner of a seven-furlong maiden at Leopardstown last May, the Kodi Bear gelding took third in the Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes the following month and returned from a year-long absence to finish fourth in the same race.

Sent off 4/1 on Sunday, the Seamus McPeake-owned gelding made all of the running, with three-time Group 3 winner and Group 1 performer Alcantor (13/8 favourite) positioned in second. The pair remained in that order at the line, as the lighter-raced contender dug deep to prevail by half a length.

“I thought he ran very well first time this year,” Murtagh reflected. “He had a few niggly problems and he’s a big horse, gave him plenty of time. I came here confident. Wasn’t ideal to make the running, but Ben said he jumped well and he didn’t want to take him back – he was nice and even in front. In fairness to the horse, he battled well to the line. He should come on again from today.”

British winner

Unfortunately for Joseph O’Brien, Alcantor was one of six seconds for the yard over the course of the three days, with Summer Is Tomorrow (40/1) coming closest to getting his head in front in the Tulfarris Hotel And Golf Resort Maddenstown Handicap.

A neck separated the 40/1 shot and William Haggas’ 4/1 favourite King Of Earth at the line, marking back-to-back wins for the Ali Abdulla Saeed-owned three-year-old, who wore cheekpieces following his recent maiden victory.

Dashing back to the weighroom in order to catch his flight, Tom Marquand commented: “He’s a lovely big horse and obviously well-related (Kingman half-brother to King Of Change).

“He’s learning his job, with cheekpieces on today for what was a different task to Wolverhampton against a handful of horses. He had to do it the hard way today.”