Ryan Moore drives Mango Diva to victory

It cost Ryan Moore a one-day suspension for his use of the whip but the English raider Mango Diva secured an exciting Group Two success at the

Curragh

yesterday that might be a precursor to even better.

Dank landed last year's Kilboy Estate Stakes for Moore and Sir Michael Stoute before progressing to a pair of Grade One victories in the USA in the Beverly D at Arlington and the Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Mango Diva might not have been as visually impressive as her stable companion yesterday but no one can doubt her resolution as she overhauled Lahinch Classics in the last stride to win by a short head with the evens favourite My Titania half a length back in third.

Moore was at his most powerful, and although not feeling well afterwards, the stewards could see no evidence of a lack of vigour and gave him a day for the frequency of his whip-use.

Stoute wasn’t present but his travelling head-lad, James Savage, said: “There were showers last night and I was praying they’d stop. She wants fast ground. It will be up to the boss but who knows, she could follow the Dank path.”

My Titania’s reputation took a blow. She travelled well to the two furlong pole but there was no lightning turn of foot and the highly-rated filly merely stayed on.

Another furlong

“She travelled like a winner but just stayed on. It looks like another furlong might suit her,” said My Titania’s trainer John Oxx. “She’s in the Nassau Stakes. That’s in two weeks, and I would prefer it were three. But we won’t rule it out.”

The day’s other €100,000 highlight also went across the Irish Sea as Tim Pitt’s Sir Maximilian led home Caspian Prince in an English one-two finish for the five-furlong Rockingham Handicap. Shropshire-based Pitt’s only previous runner in Ireland finished last in a Goffs Million.

“He would have won the Wokingham but missed the cut,” Pitt said. “He’s in the Stewards Cup but he wouldn’t go there if it was rattling quick ground. The Ayr Gold Cup in the Autumn is the big target.”

The 2011 Dewhurst hero Parish Hall secured a first win in nine months when pouncing late on Afternoon Sunlight in the Group Three Meld Stakes.

"I wasn't sure where the pace was going to come from but I knew he had a turn of foot so I just got him settled and followed the pace," explained jockey Kevin Manning who brought the Jim Bolger-trained star from last to first in the straight.

Jackie Bolger’s colours were also carried to success in the Nursery on board the Brendan Duke trained 14-1 shot, Intenser.

Aidan O’Brien is pointing both last year’s Irish Oaks heroine, the new Ballydoyle recruit Chicquita, as well as her own rival Venus de Milo at next month’s Yorkshire Oaks, and looks to have another high-class filly on his hands in yesterday’s juvenile maiden winner, Toogoodtobetrue.

Alice Hills enjoyed an armchair winning ride on Wither Hills to land the lady riders handicap from Beau Michael.