Van Gogh illustrates his ability in Curragh

A big field went to post for the juvenile maiden in the Curragh, but the market principals dominated as Van Gogh saw off Colour Sergeant

Aidan O'Brien 's Van Gogh was a warm order at 4/7f and he soon led over the seven-furlong trip as Colour Sergeant tracked him in second.

The pair were some three lengths clear of the remainder at the halfway stage and soon increased the margin.

Colour Sergeant closed in the final quarter of a mile, but Van Gogh was ridden over a furlong from home to try and burn him off.

Colour Sergeant inched closer in the final 100 yards, but couldn't reel in the winner who saw it out well by half a length under Seamie Heffernan. The runner-up went off at 7/2. Chicago Black Hawk was an eye-catcher as he finished well to be a never nearer third at 16/1. He was beaten three and a quarter lengths by the winner.

Seamie Heffernan said: “He’s a gorgeous big horse and I’d say there could be a lot of improvement in him.

“He’s been running well and because he’s big I get the impression there could be a lot of improvement with time.”

American Pharaoh colt Van Gogh had been out four times before today and had taken the runner-up berth in Group 2 and Group 3 company at Leopardstown.

Paddy Power left Van Gogh unchanged at 20/1 for the Dewhurst and at 50/1 for the 2000 Guineas.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee