O'Brien's Moonstone wins Darley Irish Oaks

Moonstone just prevailed in a thrilling finish to the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh.

Sent off the 2-1 favourite, the Aidan O’Brien-trained filly needed all of Johnny Murtagh’s magic in getting the better of 66-1 stablemate Ice Queen right on the line.

Gagnoa was third for Andre Fabre.

Runner-up in the Epsom version last month, Moonstone sat handily behind the pace in the early stages but took a fair while to warm to her task at the business end of the mile-and-a-half contest.

Ice Queen had travelled just in front of the market leader and led at the two-furlong marker.

Murtagh was all the while stoking his mount up but when she did eventually quicken inside the last Ice Queen and Colm O’Donoghue stuck admirably to their guns.

It was on the nod at the finish with just a short head between the pair.

The win continues a memorable season for the all-conquering O’Brien team, with this being the 13th Group One of the season to head back to Ballydoyle.