Unbeaten Meditate 6-1 favourite for 1,000 Guineas as O'Brien and Moore dominate

Saturday: Curragh

The strength of the Ballydoyle juveniles was advertised in intimidating fashion when Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore combined to win all four juvenile races on the card, highlighted by unbeaten filly Meditate in the Group 2 Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes.

The daughter of No Nay Never was having her first run since winning the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, and her first start over seven furlongs. The way Moore rode her indicated that the step up in trip was not thought to be a problem and so it proved as she made just about all and did just enough up the hill to hold off Olivia Maralda by three-quarters of a length.

Mediate: an exciting prospect for Aidan O'BrienCredit: Patrick McCann

Meditate is now as short as 6-1 favourite for the 1,000 Guineas and O'Brien said: "It was a lovely performance. She was very fresh. She hit the gates and made all, showing how tactically quick she is. She travels along in second gear. She's just very professional and we never thought the trip would be an issue.

"The plan was to come here, have a nice experience and then go for the Moyglare. Ryan said that trip would be no problem and going further would be no problem. She looks very exciting."

Aesop is no fairytale

O'Brien and Moore also landed the Group 2 Galileo Irish EBF Futurity Stakes with Aesop's Fables, who impressed on just his second start.

The son of No Nay Never, who won a Navan sprint maiden in April, saw out the trip well and picked up strongly inside the final furlong to beat stablemate Hans Andersen and the Tyros Stakes winner Proud And Regal.

"He had a little setback and missed a lot of time, he did well today," said O'Brien. "He's a big, strong, powerful horse and a beautiful mover and very well balanced. I was a bit worried stepping up to seven furlongs so I don't know if we'll go for a mile with him this year. He's not slow, he's built like a big sprinter so we'll see how he comes out of it. I would say he will progress a lot."

The colt was cut to 14-1 (from 33) by Paddy Power for the 2,000 Guineas. More immediately, the same firm cut him to 7-1 (from 20) for the Middle Park Stakes and to 8-1 (from 25) for the Dewhurst.

Ballydoyle maidens impress

O'Brien and Moore began the afternoon in fine style by winning the opening pair of juvenile maidens.

Camelot colt Hiawatha justified 5-4 favouritism to score at the third attempt with a front-running three-and-a-half-length success, while Heart Cry's newcomer Continuous won the following 7f maiden.

Big day for Hassett

The small Tipperary stable of Martin Hassett enjoyed a huge day as the trainer recorded a first Curragh double.

The Bold Lad Handicap next month could be the next port of call for Secret Magician after Seamie Heffernan guided him to success in the 6f maiden, and that was followed just over an hour later by the victory of Harry's Hill under Scott McCullagh in the sprint handicap.

"We're just a small, family run operation," said Hassett. "We're doing it to have winners. It's something you can't beat, whether it be here or a wet November Thursday at Thurles. It's special coming here because this is headquarters. I have 13 in at the moment between the Flat, jumps and a few point-to-pointers but I have room for more. I'll never turn anyone away."

Results and analysis

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