Venus De Milo (left, pink). In the distance is Moth (third left, dark blue colours)© Photo Healy Racing
Aidan O'Brien's Venus De Milo (8-1) maintained her unbeaten record in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Naas Oaks Trial.
The race was billed as an opportunity for Moth to get back in the groove after excellent Classic performances at Newmarket and Epsom, but Joseph O'Brien's mount was never better than mid-field, found traffic problems up home straight and was ultimately well beaten.
In comparison, Bunairgead was always to the fore and held sway two-out before being tackled by Opera Gloves
The latter got the better of that argument but Venus De Milo came from the clouds under Seamie Heffernan to lead close home and score by three-quarters of a length.
The O'Brien partnership will have been delighted with Darwin s Irish debut win in the Boston Access Race.
Only three went to post but American import Darwin (11-10 favourite) was much the best, relishing the quick ground and cruising to victory over Fighter Squadron
The O'Briens were also on the mark with Illustrate who got off the mark in the Prosperous Financial Services Supporting North Kildare Chamber Maiden.
He showed improved form when second at the Curragh and went one better with a two and a quarter-length win having bagged the far rail from his low draw.
Runner-up Lottie Dod raced alone towards the centre of the track and put up a good fight in the circumstances.
Nial McCullagh kept things simple on 4-7 favourite Gold Peregrine in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.
Clearly all the wiser for his recent Navan introduction, the Intikhab colt become Johnny Murtagh's first two-year-old winner of the season with a pillar-to-post triumph, finding plenty at the head of affairs to beat fast-finisher Booker by four and a half lengths.< Sophies Echo (12-1), ridden by Connor King for Thomas Cleary, defied the burden of top weight to run out a ready winner of the Martins Scaffolding Supporting Naas Hurling Handicap.
