AIDAN O’Brien’s domination of the Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford Stakes continued unabated as Luxembourg announced himself a serious classic contender for next season with a blistering turn of foot to provide the Ballydoyle maestro with a 21st success in this Group 2 mile event which includes the last 11 renewals.

The Beresford is usually seen as a pathway for middle-distance prospects but such was the style of this victory that all options are surely open.

Seamie Heffernan gave the son of Camelot, sent off 8/13 favourite on the back of a debut Killarney maiden win in July, a supremely confident hold-up ride.

The half-brother to Group 2 winner Leo De Fury quickened up impressively on the outer inside the final furlong to beat Manu Et Corde by four and three-quarter lengths, with the front-running Tuwaiq a short-head further back in third.

Impressed

Heffernan was clearly impressed saying: “The turn of foot he showed me today was pretty exciting and he couldn’t have done that any easier.

“The most impressive thing about him is he knows he’s good and he doesn’t show it off. He doesn’t show you until you press the button and say give us a look. When you have that turn of foot a mile is well within his comfort zone. His dad was a good staying horse that had the pace and class to win a Guineas.”

O’Brien was in Newmarket saddling Tenebrism to land the Group 1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes but later commented: “He’s a lovely horse and was showing loads before he went to Killarney. He came forward every week after that and it was a lovely second stage for him.

“The plan was the Beresford and then he might go for the Vertem Futurity Trophy if he stays well.

“Sometimes this time of the year horses can go off because he is a big horse. He has plenty of class and is not short of pace.”

Bookmaker reaction was swift making him as low as 8/1 favourite (from 20/1) for next year’s Derby.

Double

O’Brien and Heffernan doubled up in the following William Hill Ireland Lengthen Your Odds Maiden in which Jeroboam opened his account at the ninth attempt.

The easy-to-back 2/1 shot showed good speed throughout and quickened clear over a furlong out to score by one and a quarter lengths from the staying-on Carlton Banks.

“He has plenty of pace and plenty of ability. Maybe he’s starting to strengthen up and get it together,” said Heffernan.

THE Group 3 William Hill Ireland Renaissance Stakes was the chief supporting race on the card and Art Power appreciated a drop in class to make short work of his rivals.

Trained by Tim Easterby for King Power Racing and last successful in the Lacken Stakes at Naas over a year ago, the grey son of Dark Angel had been running well in Group 1 company all season including when beaten by less than two lengths in the Darley July Cup and again last time in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock.

The 4/5 favourite made smooth headway to lead over a furlong out and soon quickened clear for David Allan to beat Twilight Spinner by an impressive five lengths, with Measure Of Magic a further half a length away in third.

“He travelled very strongly through the race, quickened up and ran through the line strong,” said Allan.

“Obviously it’s a bit of a step down in class for him and it might do his confidence good. He loves Ascot and I think Champions Day will be the target. He goes on that ground (officially good, good to firm in places) but a bit of juice in the ground would suit him.”

Stalls guru

Jessica Harrington was full of praise for stalls guru Will Hayes after Willesee continued the Moone trainer’s blistering run of form in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden.

The 16/1 chance appeared to have plenty to do over a furlong out but finished to such effect that she had two and a quarter lengths to spare over Good Heavens at the line.

“She was withdrawn at Naas because she wouldn’t go into the stalls and also at a barrier trial but Will Hayes has done some job on her. That’s why I’ve run her at the Curragh so he could come over. He’s at the start with her and leads her in. She trusts him now and maybe that will give her a bit of confidence,” said Harrington before adding: “That’s our first runner for Emmaroo Bloodstock who are from Australia.”

Tough Florentine

Ross O’Sullivan’s dual-purpose yard is also in fine form and Miss Florentine recorded her third win this term in the Bord Na Mona Recycling Apprentice Handicap.

The 4/1 favourite asserted over a furlong out for Robert Whearty before holding off Stellar Spirit by half a length.

“She’s such a tough cookie and has kept improving all the way through the season. She’s a homebred and it’s great as John (Harney) has the mare at home,” said O’Sullivan.

“THAT’S all about Sam,” enthused Shane Lyons, assistant trainer to his brother Ger, after Sh Boom (18/1) was produced well inside the final furlong by Sam Ewing to beat Windsor Pass by a neck in the William Hill Ireland Pick Your Places Handicap.

“Sam carried out instructions to a tee and that’s the essence of a very good apprentice. He said the ground could have been a little bit quick for her and she can definitely go up another furlong,” he added of the filly who is owned in partnership by David Spratt, Sean Jones and Lynne Lyons.

Jim Bolger was on hand to welcome in Gaire Os Ard after his homebred daughter of Teofilo led inside the final furlong under Kevin Manning to beat Thunder Eclipse by three-quarters of a length in the six-furlong Irish EBF Auction Series Race.

The 9/1 chance, runner-up to Tenebrism at Naas back in March before being absent for four months, was getting off the mark at the seventh attempt and Bolger explained: “She has taken a little bit of time but is a filly with a future and she can run over anything from six furlongs to a mile. She is a big filly and we’ll try to get some blacktype for her, maybe not this year but it will certainly be on the cards next year.”

Magnificent

Magniffico (7/2) took the other juvenile race on the card, the Gain The Advantage Series Nursery, when just coming out on the right side of a three-way photo over Mumayaz and Keel Bay.

Winning trainer Johnny Murtagh said: “That was tight! He’s a professional little horse, very straightforward. Ben (Coen) said the ground was just on the quick side for him and he might appreciate a little more ease. He’s a horse that will improve with racing and he’ll learn how to sprint a bit better.

“I’m delighted for Fitzwilliam Racing. It’s been a quite time for them this year but they always seem to have a bit of luck here at the Curragh.”