IMPRESSIVE debut winner Great Barrier Reef maintained his unbeaten record with a commanding performance in the Kilkea Castle Marble Hill Stakes, completing the second leg of a treble on the day for Ballydoyle, Coolmore and Westerberg.

Sent off 8/15 favourite for the Group 3 won by Albert Einstein last year, the chesnut dwelt slightly in the stalls before racing towards the back of the field by Ryan Moore, while Wayne Lordan blazed a trail out on front aboard stablemate Carry The Flag.

Two furlongs from home, it looked like the leader might win the six-furlong contest, but Great Barrier Reef found another gear 110 yards out and powered to the front, going on to beat Carry The Flag by a length and a quarter, while Robson de Aguiar’s Immortal Guard claimed third.

The Coolmore and Westerberg-owned winner started the day as 3/1 favourite for the Coventry Stakes and shortened into 5/2 following his second success.

No need to worry

Despite his short price for Sunday’s Group 3, O’Brien was worried by a disappointing piece of work earlier in the week, he revealed. “We couldn’t find any reason - he came out of the work very well and very fresh,” he continued.

“Wayne let his horse roll along - you’d be very happy with him at five [furlongs]. Ryan said his lad was very green in the stalls - he whinnied and missed it, so he gave him a chance in the first half of the race.

“He flew home, but he said he had to pull him and teach him, and he said when he got there, he did it very easy. He’s obviously a high-class horse, but he’s still babyish and green.”

Great Barrier Reef is a full-brother to Mystery Power, who won the July Stakes for Richard Hannon, and O’Brien is confident his No Nay Never colt will get the seven-furlong trip, too.

“If he comes out of it okay, we’ll leave him go to the Coventry. You’d have to be very happy with him. No Nay Nevers have loads of speed, but he looks like he probably will get seven [furlongs].”

Goddess shines

Sun Goddess (4/11 favourite) got connections off to a smart start when bolting up in the opening Revamp Conservation And Restoration Irish EBF Fillies Maiden over six furlongs.

The £120,000 yearling buy had shown great promise on debut 15 days prior, when deadheating for second in a Naas maiden won by stablemate Carry The Flag, who would finish second in the Marble Hill Stakes.

Ridden prominently by Moore on Sunday, the Sioux Nation filly was in command before the final furlong and skipped clear under hands and heels to score by five lengths, while Joseph O’Brien’s newcomer Green Empress caught the eye in second.

The performance earned Sun Goddess 3/1 favouritism for the Albany Stakes, which O’Brien confirmed was a possibility.

“She could be an Albany filly if she knows enough, but Ryan said she is still very green between the two and the one [furlong markers], but then she started to go again after that,” he said.