Double joy for O’Brien and Heffernan

Aidan O’Brien and Seamie Heffernan teamed up for a Group-race double at the Curragh, while Herald The Dawn won the Futurity Stakes.

Group 1 winning juvenile Found claimed her first victory of the season when running out a convincing winner of the Royal Whip.

Only three went to post for the Group 3 contest after Found’s stablemate Ol’ Man River was withdrawn on account of the softening ground and the filly had little trouble in picking up her only serious rival Answered.

Found bounded clear to win by four lengths on her first start beyond a mile and her victory in the hands of Heffernan over 10 furlongs has opened up the race diary for the rest of the year.

Heffernan also did the steering on board Order Of St George, who justified odds-on favouritism in the Irish St Leger Trial.

Order Of St George had just been denied by stablemate Bondi Beach in the Curragh Cup over course and distance on his penultimate start, but another tight finish was never on the cards.

After Sea Moon had hit the front three furlongs out, Heffernan came through a gap on the rail on Order Of St George to forge clear to win by seven-and-a-half lengths.

Sea Moon, who finished third in the St Leger at Doncaster four years ago, ran with credit on his first start for John Oxx following a spell in Australia, while Ascot Gold Cup runner-up Kingfisher was third for O’Brien.

Herald The Dawn emulated his sire New Approach when getting on top close home to win the Group 2 Futurity Stakes over seven furlongs.

A full brother to Dawn Approach, who won the 2000 Guineas in 2013, Herald The Dawn took time to get past Now Or Never before securing a length-and-a-quarter victory for trainer Jim Bolger and jockey Kevin Manning.

The favourite Shogun, from the O’Brien yard and ridden by the trainer’s son Joseph, finished third.