Above The Curve looks well above average

The market was very positive about Above The Curve for the opening three-year-old fillies' maiden in Leopardstown and Joseph O'Brien's filly was thoroughly professional in getting off the mark.

She ran a lovely race in third on debut in a backend fillies maiden over a mile at this track in October when putting in plenty of good late work.

The American Pharoah filly stepped up to 1m2f for this assignment and had to race wide from stall 12. Shane Crosse settled her in rear of mid-division and she glided into contention at the two pole.

She was nudged along to lead over a furlong out from Thoughts Of June and readily moved clear in the final 150 yards.

The 6/5 favourite came in by a comfortable two and three quarter lengths from Thoughts Of June (5/1). Hymn Book Too was another two and a half lengths away in third at 22/1.

“We think a lot of her. She had a really good run last year and she obviously has an amazing pedigree,” said O'Brien.

“We couldn't ask for more, we'll see where we go now but we think she's an Oaks-type filly.

“She's a very big filly so we'll be managing her gently, maybe something like the Blue Wind would suit.

“We won't be throwing her in at the deep end, we'll take baby steps with her.

“She really is huge, in a way she's nearly too big and we'll have to manage her correctly. She hasn't done anything wrong so far anyway.

"I don't think she will an Epsom filly - she probably could be but I think we will look at the Curragh maybe with her but it is early days to be targeting that."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson