War Command is driven out by Joseph O'Brien to beat Mustajeeb (right) into second© Photo Healy Racing
< War Command got back in the winning groove with an overwhelming success in the Galileo EBF Futurity Stakes at the Curragh.
Ante-post favourite for next season's 2000 Guineas after his impressive Coventry Stakes victory, the Aidan O'Brien-trained juvenile was beaten in the Phoenix Stakes last time but was sent off the 8-11 market leader to make amends in this Group Two contest.
Stablemate Friendship took them along as far as the closing stages, but Joseph O'Brien - completing a treble - called for an effort from War Command approaching the final furlong and the colt powered past to beat Mustajeeb by three lengths.
It wasn't all plain sailing for the Ballydoyle yard, however, as the odds-on Ernest Hemingway was beaten into third place in the Group Three Gain Irish St Leger Trial Stakes behind Royal Diamond
Johnny Murtagh set out to make all on last season's Classic hero (7-2), who battled on gamely down the straight to hold Voleuse De Coeurs by half a length, with Ernest Hemingway never able to get to the front two and finishing a further five and a half lengths away.
O'Brien jnr produced the Gary Moore-trained Dutch Masterpiece (4-1) with an electrifying burst of speed in the Group Three Flying Five Stakes, cutting down the always prominent favourite Hamza deep into the final furlong to score by half a length.
His other winner was the blinkered Ballydoyle youngster Terrific (5-4 favourite), who followed up her maiden victory in the Loder EBF Fillies Race, leading all the way and never looking in danger as she won by two and a quarter lengths.
David Wachman's juvenile Come To Heel (6-4 favourite) is unbeaten after two starts following an impressive show in the Listed Irish Field Curragh Stakes, collaring Hurryupharriet well inside the final furlong to score cosily by half a length under Wayne Lordan.
Eddie Lynam's classy filly Vallado was sent off the 7-4 favourite for the valuable Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale Stakes and was always going well before winning by two and a half lengths under Pat Smu