With Galway on the horizon, last week’s racing was low-key domestically but there were several efforts of note on the juvenile front as Leopardstown played host to a pair of Group 3 contests. The second of these was the Tyros Stakes, in which the exciting Sanus Per Aquam was expected to make it three wins from as many starts but the red-hot favourite was upstaged by Aidan O’Brien’s Deauville.

This Listowel maiden winner looked to have plenty on his plate but he came through this test in flying colours after producing a very gritty display to defeat the market leader.

On this evidence, Deauville is a fine prospect for the major seven-furlong and mile contests through the second half of the season.

Earlier on the card at Leopardstown, Tanaza turned in a cracking effort to make it two wins from as many starts in the Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes.

This Dubawi filly was among a host of promising debut winners in the lineup and her victory over Alice Springs already had Dermot Weld contemplating a 1000 Guineas bid for her next season. Tanaza will have one more run this year, which will come in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh on Irish Champions Weekend.

Irish hope

The second half of the season brings with it no shortage of Irish interest in major overseas prizes. Dermot Weld expects to launch a number of overseas raids in the coming weeks with his recent Meld Stakes heroine Carla Bianca set to journey to Arlington Park in Chicago in a couple of weeks for the Grade 1 Beverly D Stakes. Meanwhile, the Weld-trained sprinter Mustajeeb is set to cross swords with the seasoned international campaigner Gordon Lord Byron in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on Sunday week.