Moonlight rediscovers Magic to defeat Deauville in Group 3 contest

Jim Bolger was bold enough afterwards to intimate, perhaps jokingly, that he couldn't win with Moonlight Magic if he didn't win the Group 3 ICON Meld Stakes, and with Group 1 winners Deauville and The Grey Gatsby in opposition it was a brave thought, but in the final analysis it proved far from foolhardy.

The rain-softened ground appeared not to be in favour of either of the supposed big guns, although Deauville under Donnacha O'Brien had quite a soft lead at a steady pace, but however much he found off the bridle it was not good enough to see off Bolger's charge, and under a terrific drive from Kevin Manning, the son of Cape Cross wrested control inside the final furlong to score by a head.

"He put up a good performance out there, he battled well and I always felt that I was getting there," said Manning, adding: "The little bit of ease in the ground didn't inconvenience him and against these it was probably in his favour. He might just enjoy that bit of kindness in the ground."

Bolger said: "He was in really good form coming into this and I was telling myself that if he couldn't win this evening I can't win with him! We've had a good run over the past few weeks and that makes all the difference."

He added: "He's run good races wherever he has gone, I suppose the only bad one was the Derby when he didn't handle Epsom. He's getting back towards the top of his game now and hopefully he can bag a better one before the year is out. He's certainly good enough to take part in the Irish Champion Stakes, he ran well in it last year."

Moonlight Magic received an initial 20-1 quote from Paddy Power for the Irish Champion Stakes.

Aidan O'Brien was pleased with runner-up Deauville, saying: "He loves fast ground and ran a very good race, he was beaten by a good horse. He needed a run after Ascot before we go to the Arlington Million next month and we took the chance of coming here."

The Grey Gatsby trailed in last of the five runners. Rider Pat Smullen said: "He was disappointing. They didn't go a great pace but it's disappointing that he couldn't pick up."

Meld Stakes result