THE feature race at Leopardstown on Saturday was the Group 1 Qipco Irish Champion Stakes, in which Group 1 Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby) star The Grey Gatsby narrowly beat the odds-on favourite and dual Derby hero Australia in a thrilling finish, the pair pulling four and a half lengths clear of last year’s Group 1 Irish Derby scorer Trading Leather.

This completed a remarkable double for Coolmore Stud’s exciting young sire Mastercraftsman (by Danehill Dancer) as, just three hours earlier, another of his first crop sons Kingston Hill won the Group 1 Ladbrokes St Leger Stakes (British Champions Series) at Doncaster.