AIDAN O’Brien and Ryan Moore began the classic weekend at the Curragh with a bang as the pair teamed up for a treble on the Friday evening.

Ballydoyle juveniles claimed the first two races on the card with newcomer Ylang Ylang making a big impression in the Kildare House Hotel Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.

The daughter of Frankel, a £1.5 million purchase as a yearling, went to post a 8/13 shot on her debut in the seven-furlong contest.

Moore bounced out in front on the hotpot and she quickened away in style inside the final furlong to record a convincing two-and-three-quarter length win over Dollerina.

The winner now heads the ante-post markets for both the 1000 Guineas and Oaks next year.

O’Brien said afterwards: “We’re delighted with her. She was never away so she was babyish. She was working very well at home.

“She’s probably going to come on in leaps and bounds. It was nice to see her doing that, Ryan said she was only playing in front. He just gave her a backhander to get down and stretch.”

When asked if the Debutante Stakes could be next on the agenda he added: “That should be perfect. She’s working with the good colts, no problem, which is usually a very good sign.”

Mountain high

O’Brien and Moore had also claimed the opening Cunningham’s Of Kildare Maiden with Mountain Bear.

The No Nay Never colt had been sixth on his debut at the venue earlier in the month and stepped forward nicely to open his account.

Moore was prominent throughout on the 4/1 shot, in the six-furlong contest, and led a furlong out to record a length victory over Chandigah.

“He was more professional today but Ryan said, when he got there he was still very green. He’s a good cruiser and he shows plenty of class through a race,” said O’Brien.

When asked if the Phoenix Stakes could be a target he added: “I’d say something like that and you’d like to get another run before that.“He’s a horse that will probably come forward plenty, but he’s not short of pace, I’d say.”

The treble was completed in the finale when The Black Tiger kept on gamely in the closing stages to land the Hartes Group Irish EBF Maiden.

Moore tracked the leaders in the 10-furlong contest before asking his mount to hit the front passing the two pole.

The Justify colt repelled the challenge of Saturn in the closing stages to record a half-length success.

“Ryan gave him a lovely ride. He’s a horse that is a bit of a slow learner. It just took a run or two for the penny to drop,” said stable representative Chris Armstrong.

“We’ll just let him work through the grades. We’ll go for a handicap and let him progress in his own time and see how he pans out.”

THE Franchise picked a nice race in which to make his breakthrough when staying on stoutly to land the €50,000 J.J. Mahon & Sons Handicap.

Joseph O’Brien’s charge had been runner-up in maiden company on his previous start and was making his handicap debut in the nine-furlong contest.

The 4/1 favourite Nation’s Call cruised up to lead two furlongs from home but couldn’t hold the late charge of The Franchise.

The Siyouni colt kept on strongly for Declan McDonogh to lead in the final 100 yards and record a half-length win over the staying on Booyea.

“Declan gave him a great ride. He had some good form in maidens and he obviously enjoyed the step up in trip today,” said O’Brien.

“We might go to Galway with him for the mile race there. He’s a nice horse.

“The owners (EuroLindy Syndicate) are American so he could potentially go there at some stage.”

City for Galway again

BALLYBRIT is also on the agenda for Tudor City after the dual Galway Hurdle winner got back to winning ways in the Silken Thomas & Lock 13 Apprentice Derby. Tony Martin’s charge was confidently ridden by James Ryan as he guided the 17/2 shot through a gap inside the final furlong to record a half-length win over Gradulations.

“He travelled like a dream the whole way around. Two furlongs out I thought I was going fierce well and I was just waiting for the splits and luckily they came,” said Ryan, in the colours of John Breslin. I went up and sat on him in Tony’s on Tuesday and he said ‘he’s ready to go and seems in great order’. He filled me with confidence.”

Verhoyen strikes again

VERHOYEN has been a terrific servant for Michael Grassick and recorded his sixth course success when producing a typically bold front-running performance in the Harp Bar Kildare Handicap.

Billy Lee got a great tune from the admirable eight-year-old as the 12/1 shot made all and kept on strongly in the closing stages to post a two-and-a-half length win over Hightimeyouwon in the seven-furlong contest. I’m delighted, with 10st 2lb you couldn’t be overconfident in that type of handicap. He loves it here, he’s a different horse when he’s here – close to home,” said Grassick.

“We’ll see what the handicapper does. We’ll have to go for premier handicaps now but he’s not going to go to the likes of Galway as it doesn’t seem to suit him. We’ll maybe go to Britain and find a handicap for him over there.”

Market speaks for Kodiac< /ch>

THE market spoke loudly in favour of Kodiac Prince in the O’Doole’s Restaurant Handicap and the Tom Cleary-trained gelding justified that support.

Rory Cleary produced the 11/2 joint-favourite (12/1 in morning) to lead a furlong out and he soon asserted to record a two-and-a-quarter length win over Overheer.

The Kodiac gelding was following up on a win at Gowran Park and Cleary senior said: “He seems to have improved and is at his best this year. In fairness to the handicapper, he give me a chance after winning the last day. I went up in grade but I think the key to him was the drop of rain we got, he got his toe in.

“My owners Helena and Matty O’Toole have been very patient since the day they bought him. If I could have a couple of owners like them, that’s all anybody would want.” (finished third again at Roscommon on Tuesday).