O'Brien completes quick cross card double

After taking the opener at Limerick with Tigris River Aidan O'Brien completed a quick cross the card double as his Black Sea ran out a comfortable winner of the first at the Curragh, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

Fourth on his debut at Gowran last month the son of Galileo was widely expected to get off the mark today, opening on-course at 4/5 before going off the 5/6 market leader.

Settled just behind the leaders he was pushed along to lead a furlong and a half from home.

He kept up the gallop from there and came home a comfortable two length winner under Ryan Moore. Red Rannagh (100/1) ran on well to take second under Emmet McNamara for Willie Browne while the well-supported Awtaad (25's this morning and from 12's to 9's on-course) was a head back in third under Chris Hayes for Kevin Prendergast.

Aidan O'Brien said afterwards: "He'd a nice run in Gowran. He was a bit free going to the start on that occasion, and Seamie dropped him in and he came home well.

"He settled well today, and is a nice horse to have going into next year."

STEWARDS REPORT

The Stewards informed Christopher Phillips, trainer that Quickaswind would have to be recertified before being declared to run from stalls again.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee