Moonstone another for all-conquering O’Brien

YOU’D imagine Aidan O’Brien was just about the most relaxed man at the Curragh yesterday, as Moonstone and Ice Queen went toe-to-toe at the end of the Darley Irish Oaks.

O’Brien trained both and, understandably, admitted afterwards that he “didn’t mind’ which scored. For punters, however, it was of grave concern, with Moonstone, the eventual winner by a short head, a heavily-backed 2-1 favourite and Ice Queen a real rag at 66-1.

Johnny Murtagh conjured a sustained burst from Moonstone to mug Colm O’Donoghue and Ice Queen on the line to continue the inimitable duo’s amazing run.