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'Plenty of class' - could this exciting filly follow in Love's footsteps?

Never Ending Story and Ryan Moore win the Listed Silver Flash Stakes
Never Ending Story and Ryan Moore win the Listed Silver Flash StakesCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Thursday: Leopardstown

Aidan O'Brien used the Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes as a launchpad to 1,000 Guineas success for Love in 2019, and looks to have unearthed another Classic prospect in Never Ending Story, who gave Ryan Moore his second winner of the day after travelling on from Sandown for this evening fixture.

Having created a favourable impression when winning a Curragh maiden on her second start last month, the Dubawi filly out of top-level winner Athena took a another step forward to score at odds of 5-6, repelling the late challenge of the promising Zoinnocent.

Paddy Power responded to the half-length success by cutting Never Ending Story to 16-1 (from 25) for next year's 1,000 Guineas.

"We're delighted with her," said O'Brien. "She was a little keen early, but Ryan did well in nursing her.

"We're very happy and she'll probably head to the Curragh next for the Debutante Stakes."

O'Brien added: "She has plenty of class. You can see from the way she travels that the better the race, the better it will suit her."

Moore later made it three winners on the day when Tower Of London ran out a comfortable winner of the mile maiden.

Proud just perfect

The Ballydoyle stranglehold on the Group 3 Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes was broken 30 minutes later when the Donnacha O'Brien-trained Proud And Regal maintained his unbeaten record under a fine front-running ride from Gavin Ryan.

Sent off at 11-4, the winner had marked himself out as a quality type when landing a Curragh maiden on his introduction last month, and was not for catching after dictating from the front.

Aidan O'Brien's bid to make it nine wins in a row in the juvenile prize came up short as 15-8 favourite Age Of Kings finished third, with the Ger Lyons-trained Hellsing running creditably in second.

"He's really improved at home since his debut and I think he's quite classy," said the winning trainer.

"There's a lot more in there and I'd be fairly confident if something came to him, he'd have found again. He'll stay a mile and handles fast ground – he's an exciting one."

O'Brien added: "We'll see how he comes out of this but the Futurity Stakes is an option, with the National Stakes after that looking an obvious path."

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