A round-up of the rest of the action from the Curragh on Sunday of the Irish Champions Festival.
Thundering strikes back
Thundering On bounced back to her best with a scintillating performance in the Moyglare ''Jewels'' Blandford Stakes.
The Epsom Oaks winner had failed to reproduce her Classic form over 10 furlongs in the Pretty Polly Stakes but some of Joseph O'Brien's horses were found to be coughing at the time.
Dropped a grade but staying over the same trip, Thundering On was sent off the 5/4 favourite for her first start since June and Ryan Moore exuded confidence every step of the way.
The pair only had one runner behind them at the top of the home straight with Moore racing three deep off the rail for most of the previous seven furlongs. He barely moved his hands as Thundering On made up her ground hand over fist in the centre of the course with most of their rivals hard at work.
It wasn't until inside the final furlong that Moore began to ride more vigorously and by that time Thundering On was already in the lead and had assumed control of the race.
Lilt and Red Letter followed her over the line - separated by a nose - but a length and a quarter adrift of the impressive winner.
Thundering On was cut to 8/1 from 12/1 for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp in October by Sky Bet and Paddy Power.
The autumn showpiece is high on O'Brien's agenda for Thundering On with Moore reportedly quite taken with the winner.
"Ryan really liked her," O'Brien confirmed.
"She was very impressive. I thought to win from there was tough and to come down the straight on her own like that. She didn't run badly the last day but we learned a lot on the day and she has a bright future.
"The Arc is an obvious target but Ryan just said she has plenty of pace and he'd be happy at 10. Ten or 12 [furlongs] and we'll discuss it over the next week and see what the feeling is for her next start but I like the look of the Arc."
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Angel obliges in opener
The English trained visitors dominated the finish of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Bold Lad Sprint Handicap with the Mick Appleby-trained 7/2 favourite Coul Angel running out a ready winner.
Familiar foes Sondad and Dark Thirty both showed up prominently before being overhauled and they had to settle for minor honours with Red Evolution running on for second to be first home of the Irish-trained runners.
The winning distances were two and three quarter lengths and a nose. He did it very well," said Appleby.
"We thought he'd win. It was a tough handicap but he's been in great form. He's been unlucky a few times at York and Tom gave him a great ride, just being patient with him. I think he'll keep improving, he'll improve again next year.
"After York we looked at this race and it was the ideal race for him and the track is ideal for him. We're two from two here this year.
Marquand added: "He broke a lot better today and Dark Thirty gave us a beautiful tow down into the furlong pole. I didn't take him off the bridle until that point.
"I didn't want to hit the front too soon on him, he doesn't do a lot when he gets there. A good performance and hopefully he's an improving horse."
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Moore and O'Brien had teamed up earlier on the card and victory was as straightforward as odds of 1/5 suggested for Star Of State in the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes.
Runner-up in the Group 2 Lowther last time, O'Brien dropped his filly back in class for this valuable contest and Star Of State didn't need to be at her best to beat the 61 rated Fine Line who was returned at 200/1.
Alpe d'Huez was third at 66/1.
Moore was aboard Star Of State who won by two and a quarter lengths and three and a quarter lengths.
The winning trainer said: "It was lovely, good prize money, she's a nice filly and nice to have a nice winner here for Jaber [Abudallah, owner] and she's a nice filly for the future.
"She's pretty good. Libertango just nabbed her late the last day and she's just about the best filly around so we have to consider the Cheveley Park Stakes.
"Today was a nice opportunity for her and we'll discuss it with Jaber and see where they'd like to go next."
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