On a memorable weekend of action at the Irish Guineas Festival at the Curragh, Homeless Songs just about stole the show with a superb performance to win the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas for trainer Dermot Weld and jockey Chris Hayes.

The daughter of Frankel, owned by the famed Moyglare Stud, travelled powerfully through the race and left her rivals toiling when sent to the front by Hayes, pulling clear by five and a half lengths.

It was a 40th home classic win for Weld, a legend of Irish racing who has trained some of the greats, and this filly could well be up there.

“That was an excellent performance and she got a lovely ride from Chris, he must take great credit,” Weld reflected after the race.

“She did the same at Leopardstown in her trial and it was just a question of whether she would be able to carry that speed to a mile. She’s always shown brilliance. She’s not the easiest to keep right but when she’s right she is very, very good.”

Moyglare Stud, owned by Swiss billionaire Eva Maria Bucher-Haefner, is one of the oldest racing and breeding operations in Irish racing. They are also a great patron of racing in Ireland, with Bucher-Haefner making numerous donations to various projects over the years.

They have lots to look forward to this year with Homeless Songs, but also with Kyprios who is a short price for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

Export

The other two Group 1 races over the weekend went for export with British raiders claiming both. As expected Native Trail claimed the Tattersalls 2000 Guineas, with an ultimately authoritative performance for rider William Buick and trainer Charlie Appleby.

Owned by Godolphin, traditionally Coolmore’s biggest rivals on the track and in the sales rings, Native Trail’s win ensured Sheikh Mohammed’s operation has now secured a unique hat-trick of Guineas wins after Coroebus scored in Newmarket and Modern Games secured the equivalent French race.

“We were coming here today trying to win both a Guineas and win the three Guineas with three different horses so there was perhaps a little bit of extra pressure,” Appleby said. “It’s a huge achievement to pull it off and I’m just so pleased for everyone involved and this is great for all the team.”

The Tattersalls Gold Cup was the race of the weekend as a spectacle, with Alenquer just getting on top of High Definition late on, ahead of established international Group 1 horses State Of Rest and Lord North.

Alenquer is trained by William Haggas and was securing his first Group 1. There seems every chance he will travel back to Ireland in September for the Irish Champion Stakes.