IRISH short-distance runners have looked vulnerable on several occasions in recent years once top British sprinters came to town, but Arizona Blaze (9/4 joint-favourite) refused to lie down to the visiting party and posted a blistering front-running display to win the Group 2 Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes.

A cracking second in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot on his last start apparently left no ill effects on the tough and talented three-year-old, and he wasn’t for pegging back in finishing two lengths too good for Ed Walker’s Temple Stakes winner Mgheera. David Egan was positive on the Adrian Murray-trained performer and it paid off.