Racing:Again wore down Lahaleeb close home to win the Boylesports.com Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh this afternoon. The 5/2 favourite was ridden by Johnny Murtagh, who won the Irish 2000 on Mastercraftsman yesterday.
Murtagh brought the David Wachman-trained filly with a late run to deny Mick Channon's charge by a neck. Oh Goodness Me was third for Jim Bolger.
Always Be True, one of Wachman's four runners in the race, was smartly away in the centre of the course while Duaisbhanna was prominent on the far side.
It looked a wide-open affair three-furlongs out when Oh Goodness Me made her bid for glory but Lahaleeb hit the front over a furlong out for Declan McDonogh.
She looked like hanging on until Again thrust late to snatch the spoils.
Victor Chandler cut the winner to 6-1 from 12s for the Investec Oaks.
Wachman said: "It's great to win my first Classic. She's always been a nice horse and I'm very lucky to have her.
"My biggest worry was that she hadn't had a run whereas most of the others had, and with those conditions the race would turn into a real test.
"We didn't run her at Newmarket because of the very quick ground and we've ended up with very slow ground at the Curragh.
"I thought the lack of a run showed in the last 100 yards, but Johnny always thought she was going to win from a furlong and a half out. It turned into a slog but she stayed well.
"She is in everything and has all sorts of options. Epsom (Oaks) is only 12 days away, but she is tough and she stays. There is also the Pretty Polly, the Irish Oaks and the Coronation Stakes to consider.
"But it is up to her owners where she goes and it will depend how she is.
"A mile and a half should not prove a problem to her and she will come on for this run."
Earlier Casual Conquest (11-4) led a home one-two for Dermot Weld in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh today.
Placed in both the English and Irish Derby last season, the Moyglare Stud-owned colt gained his first Group One triumph in tremendous style.
Leading all the way under Pat Smullen, he stormed five and a half lengths clear of his stablemate Famous Name. Lush Lashes was third.