Johannes Vermeer moves up in class

With Shogun taken out due to the yielding (soft in places) going at Leopardstown, Joseph O'Brien switched to Johannes Vermeer who successfully stepped up in class to win the Group Three Willis Champions Juvenile Stakes.

The 5/1 shot jumped away nicely and soon tracked Escondida and Waipu Cove O'Brien gave him the squeeze approaching the home turn and the Galileo colt unleashed his run to grab a narrow lead from Waipu Cove with under a furlong and a half to travel.

The whips were soon drawn on both of the main protagonists but in the final 150 yards it was Johannes Vermeer who went on and galloped his way to the line.

Waipu Cove weakened in the last 100 yards as True Solitaire (7/2) came through for second, just ahead of Sanus Per Aquam (5/4f). They were beaten a length and a half and half a length into second and third respectively.

Rockaway Valley who raced in rear throughout, finished his race well for fourth.

Aidan O'Brien said: "I'm delighted with him. He was a bit disappointing first time in Tipperary but that can happen over seven furlongs there.

"He came forward great from that and won nicely in Killarney where Emmet (McNamara) liked him.

"Joseph was very happy with him today. He picked up plenty when he asked and battled well."

This was Johannes Vermeer's third racecourse start. He was third on debut at Tipperary before emphatically winning his maiden at Killarney last month.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson