Winter ran out a hugely impressive winner of the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh. Check out our report, reaction from connections and watch the free video replay.
Curragh 3.25 - Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas result
1st Winter (8/13 fav)
2nd Roly Poly (14/1)
3rd Hydrangea (7/1)
Report
Aidan O'Brien continued his dominance of this year's Classics as Winter completed the 1000 Guineas double in scintillating style at the Curragh.
Twenty-four hours after the brilliant colt Churchill had followed up his victory in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in the Tattersalls-sponsored Irish equivalent, his stablemate Winter was all the rage to follow suit in the distaff division as the 8/13 favourite.
The daughter of Galileo had caused something of an upset when seeing off fellow Ballydoyle inmate Rhododendron in the 1000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile three weeks ago, but she proved that was no fluke with a dominant performance in the hands of Ryan Moore.
Hydrangea cut out the early running before the Mick Halford-trained Rehana was sent on by Pat Smullen, but her effort proved short-lived.
Winter loomed ominously alongside racing inside the final three furlongs before scooting clear for a four-and-three-quarter-length success.
Roly Poly and Hydrangea boxed on to finish second and third, making it a one-two-three for O'Brien, who was winning the race for a seventh time.
Sky Bet were suitably impressed by the winner and make her evens from 5/2 for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.
Reaction
Moore said: "It was very easy. She gave me a lovely ride and it was very straightforward.
"She travelled and took me into the race without me asking her a thing and I couldn't be more impressed by her today.
"She was relentless and kept building all the way to the line. It rode like a piece of work.
"You'd have to say she's stepped forward with each of her runs and the way she felt today, I can't see any reason why she won't carry on progressing.
"I think the mile is fine, she'd probably get a little bit longer, but she's a fast filly."
O'Brien said: "I'm delighted with her. She came forward from the first day at Leopardstown to Newmarket and obviously we felt that she came forward then to today.
"She's not short of pace. You'd imagine she might get a mile and quarter when she gets a mile that strong here at the Curragh, but she's a good traveller.
"Ryan was very impressed with her. He said she was as easy a Classic winner as you could believe.
"If everything went well, you'd be thinking of the Coronation Stakes (at Royal Ascot) with her, because she is a good strong traveller.
"If everything is well then you have to make your mind up where you go after that. Do you go to Goodwood over a mile and a quarter (Nassau Stakes), or do you go to the Falmouth and those races?
"The lads will talk about it and see what they want to do.
"She's a big, powerful filly and is very exciting."
The Ballydoyle handler also completed the 2000 Guineas double with Churchill on Saturday.
On the feat of achieving the double-double, the trainer added: "It's for everyone really. A lot of people work very hard.
"Over 20 years if I named out all the people, I'd only forget people. As each horse comes along there is a team of people around them. We'd be very grateful to a lot of people."
Joseph O'Brien's Intricately was fourth and Rehana passed the post fifth. However, the stewards deemed the latter had caused interference and demoted her to sixth place, with Jim Bolger's Bean Feasa moved up to fifth.
The incident occurred rounding the home turn when Bean Feasa became short of room on the rail. Bolger was unhappy with Smullen's ride on Rehana, saying: "The filly (Bean Feasa) is fine, but it could have been otherwise and there was absolutely no need for it whatsoever.
"Pat Smullen had the whole track under him and he decides to play jockey and take out the two on his inside. There's no excuse for that sort of carry on."
Smullen received a one-day suspension.