Ambivalent and Johnny Murtagh sees them all off in the Group 1 Pretty Polly at the Curragh© Photo Healy Racing
< Ambivalent put up a supremely game performance to see off all-comers in the Oxigen Environmental Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh.
Roger Varian's raider, only third at Haydock last time, was soon in front under Johnny Murtagh but looked a sitting duck as the challengers arrived with a quarter of a mile to go in the Group One contest.
The four-year-old (10-1) stuck to her task, though, and after resisting Harasiya she kept on well enough to hold the late rush of last season's Epsom Oaks one-two Was and Shirocco Star by half a length and a neck.
The most eyecatching performance of the day was put up by the Aidan O'Brien-trained Ernest Hemingway on his step up to a mile and three-quarters for the At The Races Curragh Cup (Group Three).
Seamie Heffernan 's mount (12-1) had plenty to do at the two pole but sprouted wings and shot past his rivals to collar Royal Diamond inside the final furlong and win going away by five lengths.
O'Brien's juvenile Bye Bye Birdie (9-2) disappointed at Royal Ascot, but she put that well behind her with an all-the-way success in a first-time visor in the Grangecon Stud Stakes (Group Three) under Joseph O'Brien, beating favourite Heart Focus by three lengths.
The much-touted Ballydoyle newcomer Australia a son of the brilliant Ouija Board, was an unlucky loser in the Barronstown Stud EBF (C & G) Maiden as he was left four lengths but flashed home to finish a neck behind Jim Bolger's Renaissance Art (10-1).
The O'Briens were celebrating after the Boylesports.com Ladies Derby when top-weight Beach Of Falesa (8-1), owned by Anne-Marie, trained by Aidan and ridden by their daughter Sarah, cut down Eighteen Summers to score by two lengths.
Sabrina Harty's Ansgar (20-1) forged clear to win the Irish Field Handicap by two and a half lengths, while Mick Halford landed a double through the impressive Dabadiyan (5-2 favourite) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Ragusa' Handicap and Eastern Rules (6-1) in the O'Briens Wines Handicap.
