The Aga Khan has had better horses but the words John Oxx uses to describe Saturday's Meld Stakes winner Takarian are guaranteed to please any owner. "A tough, genuine, reliable and honest," said the Curragh trainer who significantly added: "He's thriving and on the upgrade."

Takarian is the sort of admirable professional that any trainer would warm to. He will try and continue the heating process back at the Curragh in the Royal Whip on August 15th.

Judged on Saturday's performance, 10 furlongs around the Curragh in Group Three company is just about ideal for Takarian. Throw in another horse to set a decent pace and he will be set up.

Oxx and John Murtagh, riding his 50th winner of the season, didn't want a slowly run race so when the stalls opened, minus Musk Lime who was withdrawn at the start, Takarian was sent straight into the lead.

Running almost exactly to their Irish Derby form, it was Make No Mistake who proved the most constant thorn to Takarian's progress as the English raider Fruits Of Love struggled over the 10 furlong trip.

Both colts put in sustained efforts up the straight but Takarian always seemed to be holding them and he swept past the post three parts of a length in front.

"We didn't want to make it but we didn't want a crawl either," explained Oxx. "He's been knocking on the door and deserves this. He didn't quite get home in the Derby here but still ran bloody well."

Running bloody well is also an apt description of Jim Bolger's horses recently. The Coolcullen trainer endured a slow start to this season but a treble with Darina, Rose Petal and Irish Summit, all ridden by Kevin Manning, proved the resurgence is well under way.

Rose Petal made it four in a row when landing the Ballymany Handicap by an impressive five lengths and this clearly progressive filly may be promoted to Stakes class after this. "It's in the hands of the handicapper," smiled Bolger after her defeat of Colombian Green.