A QUARTET of Group 3 races in Ireland started with the Group 3 Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown last Thursday, when the Derby runner-up Madhmoon returned successfully to a mile to land the odds in workmanlike fashion by a length and a half from Zuenoon.

This was a true enough contest judged by sectionals, with a finishing speed close to par of 103.2%, and Madhmoon gets a 112 timefigure with no upgrade on the back of it, compared to his best of 119. Runner-up Zuenoon closed quite well from further back and gets rated 110.