Henri Matisse came from last to first to stylishly edge out The Strikin Viking in the GAIN Railway Stakes at the Curragh.
Sent off the 8-1 outsider of the field, the mount of Wayne Lordan was the Aidan O'Brien second string in the Group Two event and was held together in rear during the early stages as Adrian Murray's Norfolk Stakes third Arizona Blaze led them along.
Kevin Ryan's The Strikin Viking - named after Manchester City star Erling Haaland - and Ballydoyle favourite Tunbridge Wells were both up with the pace, keen to keep tabs on Arizona Blaze.
As both Arizona Blaze and Tunbridge Wells began to falter, The Strikin Viking looked poised to register a famous success in the Middleham Park Racing colours, but Henri Matisse was making headway throughout the closing stages and galloped on strongly to score by half a length.
It was O'Brien's first win in the race since Van Beethoven in 2018 and now puts him level with the legendary Vincent O'Brien on a record 14 Railway Stakes victories.
For the winner, Henri Matisse, the immediate future will involve a return to the Curragh and a step up in trip.
"We're delighted with him. We thought he was a bit too babyish to go to Ascot and Wayne said he's still babyish," said O'Brien.
"He said he'll love going up to seven and we might go up to seven next, we'll see what's there for the Phoenix Stakes.
"He's a lovely horse, tries very hard and is very genuine. He has an unbelievable pedigree."
He went on: "I'd say he could be (a National Stakes horse), that's exactly what I'd say he is.
"That was a Group Two and if he was to go again you'd have to look at either the Futurity or the Phoenix. If he was staying at six it's the Phoenix and if he's going to seven it would be the Futurity on the way to the National.
"We haven't leaned on the colts at all yet. Probably from now on they'll hopefully start arriving."
On Ryan Moore choosing Tunbridge Wells he added: "That was my fault really. I thought he was a bit more forward and a bit harder.
"It was hard to assess this horse after the last day, he made very hard work of winning. Obviously I put Ryan on the wrong one, but I do plenty of that!
"Ryan's horse will be fine, he maybe didn't travel as strongly as I thought he would and he maybe wants better ground. Maybe he needs to grow up a little bit."
Amazon Lady wins the Dubai Duty Free Rockingham Handicap on Day 3 of the Dubai Duty Free Festival at the Curragh. Watch the action live now on @RTE2 and @RTEplayer #RTEracing pic.twitter.com/lEkA1P3x5E
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 30, 2024
Lord Massusus relished the drop back to a mile to land another big prize in the Colm McLoughlin Celebration Stakes.
A Group Three winner and flagbearer for trainer Joseph Murphy, the four-year-old struggled to make his presence felt in his two most recent outings up at 10 furlongs.
However, back down to a mile, he travelled supremely in the hands of Gary Carroll and gave both weight and a beating to his rivals, surging clear in the closing stages to scoop Listed honours at odds of 10-1.
"We were on a recovery mission, we were so disappointed the last day after the Group One (Tattersalls Gold Cup). We were thinking where did we go wrong, but it was just one of those things," said Murphy.
"Even during the week his work wasn't exciting, but sometimes that can be a good thing, Swamp Fox was the very same.
"It's a wonderful occasion and we're back in business, where he should be, and I think he's a nice horse going forward.
"That was a Listed race and he gave 20lb to a good filly. We'll probably travel with him, we'll see how he comes out it and see what is available."
My Mate Alfie pulled out extra to scoop the Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash Stakes in a pulsating five-way finish.
Ger Lyon's three-year-old has been a consistent performer throughout his short career and has thrived for dropping back to six furlongs, placing in the Committed Stakes behind Givemethebeatboys and finishing third to Bucanero Fuerte at Naas in the Lacken Stakes.
With none of the seven-strong field keen to go forward, it was left to Michael Dods' defending champion Commanche Falls to take the field along, a move that would ultimately take its toll in the closing stages.
The steady pace meant there were five in a line fighting it out deep into the final furlong, but it was Irish champion jockey Colin Keane who conjured up the most from his mount as My Mate Alfie bravely ground out a half-length victory at odds of 100-30.
"He's been very consistent all year and the blinkers have transformed him," said Lyons.
"He gets seven and the first furlong had me worried as they did 15 seconds and I thought it would turn into a sprint and they'd out-do him for speed.
"At home he's bombproof and you can do whatever you like, but if you run him here without blinkers he just parks and won't do a thing. The blinkers are the difference between winning and losing.
"It's great for Austin (Whelan, owner) and all his gang, he's called after his son Alfie. I'd say they'll take a while to get home tonight.
"We aimed to have three winners this weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I said if we don't win this it's all on the Derby and I don't think that's going to happen!"
My Mate Alfie could now be set for a visit to Goodwood as connections aim to get their hands on a valuable prize while the iron is hot.
"He's in the Stewards' Cup because it's a £250,000 race. I was fourth in it with a filly many years ago. I was also just chinned in an Ayr Gold Cup, I wanted to be the first Irish trainer to win it.
"Those are two races that are on my agenda. I don't think he's good enough, but we'll see.
"We're always talking about prize-money. You've got the Wokingham that's worth #150,000 and the Stewards' Cup that is £250,000 so if you are serious about prize-money you have to partake."
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