The Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden at Gowran today was a real battle of the blue-bloods with the Aidan O'Brien trained Earring edging out the marginally 'better' bred, Jim Bolger trained runner-up An Cailin Orga

The maiden was a real advertisement for the high quality of Irish flat racing at present, as winner Earring is out of Together, which finished second in both the 2011 English and Irish 1,000 Guineas.

Nicely held length and a half runner-up An Cailin Orga is herself out of top racemare Finsceal Beo, who, in 2007, famously won those two Classics.

Following today's race, Earring's rider Seamie Heffernan stated “she (Earring) has a lovely pedigree, and had a nice first run. I'd imagine the ground was a good help to her. It's beautiful ground.

"She will probably stay around that trip next time."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee