JOSEPH O’Brien is in the midst of a season of all seasons, and the dream remains alive for him to crown the campaign with a first Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe win after Thundering On regained the winning thread with a stylish victory in the Group 2 Moyglare “Jewels’’ Blandford Stakes.

Shapoor Mistry’s runaway Oaks heroine had her colours lowered over this course and distance when 11/10 favourite for the Pretty Polly Stakes when last seen in June, but she made no mistake under Ryan Moore (deputising for the sidelined Dylan Browne McMonagle) to complete a Curragh four-timer - and a weekend five-timer - for the top jockey. Having gone from 8/1 out to 20/1 for the Qatar-backed Arc following her Pretty Polly defeat, the Frankel three-year-old is now back into 7/1 for the ParisLongchamp prize.

“I’m really delighted with her,” said O’Brien, after a length-and-a-half success over main market rival Lilt (previously sixth in the French Oaks).

“Obviously she had a little blip the last day, but we learned a lot on the day, and we were able to use that today. Hopefully we’re in for an exciting autumn. Ryan was pretty impressed with her, which is a good sign.

“I think she’s interesting there [in the Arc]. We know that she stays the mile and a half and she likes a bit of juice in the ground. I thought she did very well to win from where she did today.

“It’s not easy to come from the back here at the Curragh and Ryan felt the same. She loved having a good pace to run at and loved getting a bit of juice in the ground.

“I’ll look forward to discussing with Shapoor and Pallon [Mistry] and Anthony [Stroud] over the next few days where we’ll lock in for our next spot.”

Moore added: “She travels beautifully and has a serious turn of foot. What Aidan, Joseph and Donnacha have done today just shows you what a fantastic job they are doing.”

STAR Of State became the shortest-priced winner in Irish Champions Festival history when taking full advantage of a golden opportunity in the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes as 1/5 favourite.

Ryan Moore enjoyed a lucrative call-up for Jaber Abdullah’s recent Lowther Stakes runner-up, who was considerably ahead of her rivals on official ratings. She made no mistake here with a mark of 107, beating the 61-rated Fine Line, trained by Denis Hogan, by two and a quarter lengths. It was a huge showing from the runner-up, who has since gone up 18lb to 79.

For winning trainer Joseph O’Brien, his weekend was a remarkably fruitful one. Having saddled a 1-2 in the St Leger at Doncaster, he emerged from the Irish Champions Festival with a Curragh treble, including a further 1-2 in the Group 1 National Stakes.

O’Brien said of the State Of Rest filly (bought for €85,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale): “It was good prize-money and she’s a nice filly. It was nice to have a nice winner here for Jaber and she’s an exciting filly for the future.

“Libertango just nabbed her late the last day and she’s probably the best filly around, so we have to consider the Cheveley Park. Today was a nice opportunity with her and we’ll discuss it with Jaber and see where they would like to go next with her.”

TONY Martin bridged a 10-year gap between Irish Champions Festival wins when Orandi surged home from well off the pace to capture the €150,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Northfields Handicap under an inspired Ronan Whelan.

Racing off 6lb higher than the mark off which he landed the Colm Quinn BMW Mile two starts earlier (beaten in the Ahonoora Handicap at Galway later that week on only run since), the C.J. Murtagh and Bertie Hourihane-owned big handicap specialist caused a 40/1 upset with an excellent late finishing effort.

The eight-year-old had his stamina to prove on his first start over a trip this far (10 furlongs) and brought up his fourth Irish success, backing up an Irish Lincolnshire win at this venue from a year earlier. Admirable stalwart Lord Massusus got within a half-length of the winner in second, continuing a fine weekend for trainer Joe Murphy, who won the Petingo Handicap a day earlier with Immutable.

“What a little horse,” beamed Martin. “We were stepping up to a mile and two furlongs and we just didn’t know. It was a trial and error situation.

“I just said to the boys that he was in great order and would run a big race but didn’t know whether he’d get that extra two furlongs. I thought he would because he has a relaxed way of racing.

“The jockey was absolutely superb. I thought we were a bit far out of it, but he knew what he had under him and fortunately enough it worked out. We got this horse from France, and it took him a year and a half to get moving. He was very jarred of his action. Fortunately enough it all came right.

“The plan was to go to Ascot for the mile [Balmoral Handicap], but when we get a mile and two now, I don’t know. I feel sorry for [regular rider] Robbie Colgan, he’s in a bit of bother at the moment but hopefully it’ll all pass. He’s a great man.”

MICK Appleby had never trained a winner in Ireland until Big Mojo landed the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes here a month ago.

He is now unbeaten with two runners at Irish flat racing headquarters in 2026 following a facile win for Coul Angel in the €150,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Bold Lad Sprint Handicap under Tom Marquand.

RP Racing Ltd’s four-year-old, who had been ultra-consistent without winning in 2026 prior to this, was simply head and shoulders above his rivals here off a rating of 95.

The recent York Ebor Festival third had two and three quarters of a length to spare over Red Evolution.

“I thought we’d win. It was a tough handicap, but he’s been in great form and he’s been unlucky a few times at York,” said the winning trainer.

“Tom gave him a great ride. He’s kept straight today as well, which he doesn’t normally do. The key was being patient with him. After York I sort of looked at this race and thought it would be an ideal race for him.

“We’ve had a few runners in it before and it was the perfect race for him, and the track was ideal.

“I think he’ll keep improving; he’s not the full article yet. I think he’ll definitely improve again next year. He won very well. He’d run very well at York the twice before that and he was beaten by the draw twice there. He’d been knocking at the door so it was no surprise he won a big one.”

Marquand added: “He broke well today and I didn’t take him off the bridle until into the furlong. Hopefully he’s an improving horse. He’s physically progressing.”