French Quebec travelled much better to the business end of the opening Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden at Killarney than any of her rivals but when the pressure was applied by her rider Johnny Murtagh, the twice previously raced juvenile swished her tail. That appeared to give the well-backed favourite Madhmoonah the advantage.

However French Quebec proved more amenable when Murtagh reverted to hands and heels and the pair were a short head up on Madhmoonah at the line.

A daughter of the first season sire, Excellent Art, French Quebec is trained by the very much in form Ken Condon (had a double here last night) and he said: "She's a difficult filly to read in the mornings in that she's very relaxed and she doesn't show a whole lot.

"Her last run worked out well (third to the subsequent Phoenix Stakes heroine La Collina) and Johnny liked her a lot and said that there is more to come.

"She appreciated the mile and maybe we'll go for the Flame Of Tara Stakes (at the Curragh on Sunday September 11th) now and give her a chance at some black- type.

"She had a little set-back since her last run (3rd to La Collina 74 days back) and she should come on again from this."