It wasn't Galway, but throw in a few stone walls at Leopardstown yesterday and it might as well have been as Dermot Weld and Michael Kinane proceeded to dominate again with a near 22 to 1 treble.
Social Graces and Gold Chaser were contributors to Weld's total of 10 winners in the west and again obliged, but it was the newcomer Anthem Of Love that hinted at better things to come.
Aidan O'Brien's newcomer, Stravinsky, had been the talking horse going into the Guinness Maiden, but he was a non starter due to a bruised foot. Judging by the way Anthem Of Love subsequently won, Stravinsky may have suffered a bruised reputation as well had he taken part.
A slow start made not the slightest difference as Kinane brought the Silver Hawk filly through to beat Velazquez by a very comfortable length, and she looks the one to carry the sponsors colours in next month's Moyglare Stud Stakes.
"She's very talented and will have learned a lot from that," said Weld, who added: "She may run in the Debutante Stakes beforehand, but I've seen her in my own mind as a Moyglare filly for a long time."
Social Graces carried top weight to a smooth three length win in the Aer Lingus Handicap. The gelding is owned by Beijing businessman Kak Yiu, and Weld reported that Social Graces is for sale. "He'd be ideal for Hong Kong," he added.
Although Gold Chaser won by only three-parts of a length, he was possibly an even easier winner of the Ericsson Handicap and brought Weld's seasonal total to 52. "There are no definite plans but I imagine he will run again sooner rather than later," Weld said.
The listed Telecom Eireann Stakes escaped Weld and Kinane, however, as the outsider of John Oxx's pair Mora swooped late and fast to short head the favourite, Mempari.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained filly arrived at the front cantering early in the straight, but Mora, who Pat Smullen had last early on, came with a perfectly-timed challenge to shade it.
"We were hoping she'd be in the money but she quickened very well. Mora didn't get the trip in the Golden Pages but ran well and has obviously progressed," said Oxx, who trains the filly for Lisburn owner Irene Wilson. Mora was bred by the owner's son Tom.
John Murtagh had better luck in the opener as he guided Oxx's Mardani to an easy defeat of Sarayan, with the other joint favourite, Hibernian Rhapsody, fading to last.
"He's been a slow learner and is still green, but he's getting the message," said Oxx, who hopes to run his 1997 Iris Oaks winner, Ebadiyla, in the listed Ballycullen Stakes in three weeks' time and his 1998 Irish Oaks winner, Winona, in the Yorkshire equivalent.
Coconut Creek finished fast to take the Speed Challenge Handicap after which the rider of the fifth Poker-B, Brian O'Connor, got a two-day ban for careless riding.
Kid Vid beat Homeville by three lengths in the bumper and Homeville's rider, Brian Crowley, received a five-day ban for using his whip with excessive force.
