Footstepsinthesand bags quickfire Group double on Irish Oaks card

Coolmore's Footstepsinthesand enjoyed a fine 40 minutes at the Curragh on Saturday as Marie's Diamond and Larchmont Lad provided him with a Group race double on the Darley Irish Oaks card.

It was Marie's Diamond, trained by Mark Johnston, who struck first for the Castlehyde Stud-based 2,000 Guineas winner, landing the Group 3 Jebel Ali Racecourse and Stables Anglesey Stakes to become his sire's 56th stakes winner.

In the following Group 2 Friarstown Stud Minstrel Stakes, Larchmont Lad completed the double, leading home a David O'Meara-trained one-two in the colours of Cheveley Park Stud.

Marie's Diamond is out of the Kalanisi mare Sindiyma and hails from a strong Aga Khan family that includes the champion Sinndar. He was bought by Federico Barberini and Middleham Park Racing for €35,000 from Airlie Stud at last year's Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale.

Larchmont Lad, meanwhile, is out of the King's Best mare Fotini and continued a good afternoon not only for Footstepsinthesand but for Peter and Ross Doyle, who bought him for €110,000 from Coole House Farm at the 2015 version of the aforementioned Tattersalls Ireland auction.

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