British raider Hurricane Lane claimed the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby with a last gasp win from compatriot Lone Eagle, as the Curragh welcomed back a crowd of 1,000 people on Saturday.

The day was one of the Government’s pilot test events in the plan to test the logistics and safety of reopening sporting and music events to the general public. The event went smoothly, with the track’s vast area easily allowing for the crowd to be well spread out.

Ridden by William Buick, Hurricane Lane gave his trainer Charlie Appleby and owners Godolphin a Derby double after they had secured the Epsom version with Adayar.

The son of Frankel finished third at Epsom himself, having looked ill at ease on that track and losing both of his front shoes. It wasn’t exactly plain sailing for him here either as he came on and off the bridle before powering home late to catch Lone Eagle and Frankie Dettori.

Hurricane Lane had ducked right under pressure initially, before launching his winning run, impeding at least two runners, resulting in Buick receiving a two-day whip ban for careless riding. Favourite High Definition was disappointing, finishing second last, but stumbled early in the race which Aidan O’Brien was keen to point to as an excuse.

Thundering home

On Sunday, O’Brien was out of luck again, this time at the hands of his son Joseph, who sent out the likeable filly Thundering Nights to win the Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly Stakes, just holding off Santa Barbara.

Thundering Nights had travelled over to New York for her previous run and finished an unlucky second in the Grade 2 New York Stakes at Belmont Park, so she deserved a break. Winning rider Shane Crosse excelled on the daughter of Night Of Thunder, securing his second Group 1 in the process.

The other significant performance of the weekend was that of Go Bears Go in the Group 2 Gain Railway Stakes. This will go down as another win for Britain but very much had a Galway feel about it with rider Rossa Ryan and trainer Dave Loughnane both hailing from the west.

It cost €10,000 to supplement (late entry) Go Bears Go for the race but that gamble paid off with the son of Kodi Bear holding off a quality field. Loughnane, who scored his first Royal Ascot win recently as well, is now targeting a first Group 1 win in the Phoenix Stakes with the Amo Racing-owned colt.