Insinuendo runner-up to Mother Earth 12 months ago, went one better this year when taking the Group 3 Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express Stakes at the Curragh.

The evens favourite made smooth headway under Billy Lee to lead over a furlong out but needed to be ridden out inside the final 150 yards to beat Redressed by a length and a half. Kerkiyra kept on well a further half-a-length back in third.

Winning trainer Willie McCreery said, “We're delighted to win that. She was second in it last year, probably to a better mare.

“You're on a hiding to nothing if you get beat, Michael (Deegan, owner) was brave enough to hold on to her for another year so it's great to get started.

“I wouldn't say any horse loves that ground but she got her way through it.

“Billy said she did everything wrong, she was a bit strong under him and didn't settle. He clipped heels trying to get her to settle and she still was pulling.

“She got there and then she got a bit lazy in front, she's getting a bit cute. Onwards and upwards now.

“She's been Group 1 placed and we'll aim for all the Group 1s for the year and that will be it.

“The Tattersalls Gold Cup is a possible. We'll see what way the ground is but I can't see why not. It's only driving down the road as opposed to going foreign.

“Things just didn't work out for her in Bahrain, she got shuffled back. William Buick rode a great race in front on his horse and just got pipped, he slowed it all down.

“She was coming and coming but everything happened too quickly. She had loads of room today and she's a proper mare.”

Quotes by Gary Carson