Aidan O’Brien’s exciting colt made it two from two with a narrow victory in the Group 3 International Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.
The son of Galileo was sent off the well-backed 8/13 market leader to take his record to two from two following his comfortable debut success over today's course and distance last month.
However, victory didn't always look likely for Aidan O'Brien's three-year-old after Dylan Browne Mcmonagle kicked for home on the 9/1 chance Trustyourinstinct for son Jospeh.
Slowly but surely, Jan Brueghel began to make inroads into the longtime leader and Aidan O'Brien's well-bred three-year-old soon found himself alongside deep inside the final furlong. Moore nursed his mount to the front close home, with the pair eventually finishing a neck clear crossing the line.
The winner looked to have plenty left in the tank passing the line and was subsequently cut to 10/1 (from 14s) by Paddy Power for the final British Classic of the season at Doncaster in September.
"We were worried about the ground. We knew he had improved a lot from the last day and knew he'd stay further but we weren't sure about the ground," explained O'Brien.
"You could see him swapping and changing when he turned in and Ryan was very good on him I thought.
"He will stay much further and will be very happy going up to a mile and a half. We came here to educate him and bring him on.
"It's hard going from a maiden straight into a group race. Joseph's horse brought him along at an even gallop and it was a competitive race. We were delighted.
"We weren't sure he was going to get away with it, but he did, and he stays very well.
"Ryan said he was having a right look going to the line, so there is obviously plenty there still.
"He said he was watching the photographers at the line, so he was obviously very focused and very aware of what he was doing. That's a good sign and that means he was doing it very easy."
The Galileo colt now looks set to take in the Glorious Goodwood Festival en-route to a potential crack at the St Leger, with the master of Ballydoyle adding: "We were thinking of coming here then going on to Goodwood and then going to the Leger after that, if the lads decided to go that far, it depends on what they decide to do.
"Obviously, Sovereign got a mile and a half really well, really strong. This fella is a better mover than Sovereign, a very low mover, and a bigger horse. He's very exciting going forward."
