Sequoyah stakes classic claim

Aidan O'Brien landed the Moyglare Stud Stakes for the first time when Sequoyah - one of five runners from the Ballydoyle stable in the ten strong line-up - captured the Group One prize at the Curragh yesterday.

The Sadler's Wells filly quickened up the centre of the track to lead inside the final furlong, and kept on well under Jamie Spencer to beat the strong finishing Hotelgenie Dot Com by two and a half lengths.

"She is a very special filly," said O'Brien afterwards, and added: "She has plenty of speed, and could drop back to six furlongs for the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket." Cashmans make her a 16 to 1 chance for next year's 1,000 Guineas, and O'Brien believes "she has the speed to be a class miler next year".

British trained fillies filled the first four placings in the Trusted Partner Matron Stakes, with Iftiraas benefiting from a strong drive by George Duffield to hold off Danceabout by the minimum margin in the Group 3 event.

Tom Taaffe saddled his first Listed winner on the Flat when Lady Of Kildare came out on top in an exciting finish to the opening six furlong Go And Go Round Tower Stakes. "She is a very professional filly, and likes her racing. However, that is probably it for this season, and she will start off in a Group 3 next year when hopefully she can stay a mile," said Taaffe.

Pat Hughes sent out yet another big handicap winner when Silverware led a furlong out under Francis Norton in the Cambridgeshire, and held on by half a length from Osprey Ridge. "He has been very unlucky in his last two starts, and will come back here for a mile handicap at the St Leger meeting," said Hughes.

Graten recorded a 20 to 1 shock in the Bank Of Ireland Charolais Congress 2000 Maiden. Eddie Ahern's mount got a dream run up the far rail, leading inside the final furlong for a length victory over Tinsel Moon. "She may go for a Listed race in Germany before the end of the season," said trainer Michael Grassick.

Inourhearts defied topweight when making all under Gordon Power in the Mooney's Of Monasterevin Handicap. Local trainer Frank Ennis revealed afterwards that he fitted an "old style noseband that helped her to settle early on."

Kildare jockey Barry Heffernan was lucky to escape with just a broken collarbone when his mount Periwinkle Lad clipped heels and slipped up after the final flight in the 3-Y-O Hurdle. Heffernan was shot unceremoniously out of the saddle before victory went to odds-on chance Neutron who ran on well after the final flight to settle the issue under Barry Geraghty.

Champion rider Geraghty was later penalised by the stewards after they investigated the dramatic fall of Periwinkle Lad on the run-in. He was subsequently banned for four days after the officials adjudged he had ridden carelessly.

Winning trainer Frances Crowley later completed a double in the finale when Get It On and inform amateur Kevin O'Ryan upset well-supported newcomer Walnut Creek.

Pat Flynn was another handler in double-winning form when Rossmill Native obliged for fifteen-year-old Waterford rider Tom Queally, his 19th success of the season, before Dromhall Lady completed the brace in the ten furlong handicap under Danny Grant.