CARLA BIANCA (IRE) (pictured above) made it four wins on the trot when landing Sunday’s Group 3 Dance Design Stakes at The Curragh. It was an especially appropriate race to win, being named after owner/breeder Moyglare Stud’s Irish Oaks winner of 1996, also trained by Dermot Weld. ALIVE ALIVE OH was the first to make a move, taking the lead two furlongs out, but Smullen followed in hot pursuit to eventually relegate the challenger to third, with a strongly-finishing PEARL OF AFRICA (IRE) taking second. Weld said of his winner, “That's four now back-to-back for this filly. She was slow in the spring to get going, but has progressed with every run and it was a nice performance today. Obviously the Blandford is a possibility for her and the faster the ground the better for her.” The Dansili filly comes from the family of Group 1 winner APTOSTAR, which includes the dual Group winner IRRESISTABLE JEWEL (IRE), dam of Ribbesdale winner PRINCESS HIGHWAY and dual Group winner ROYAL DIAMOND (IRE).Weld said: "She was slow in the spring but she's progressed with every run, that was a nice performance today. The Blandford is a possibility for her, the faster the ground the better." Weld said: "She was slow in the spring but she's progressed with every run, that was a nice performance today. The Blandford is a possibility for her, the faster the ground the better."  

IRISH-SIRES DOMINATE SPRINTS
COULSTY (IRE) was a comfortable winner of yesterday’s Group 3 Prix de Meautry at Deauville. The son of Kodiac tracked the leader throughout, led entering the final furlong and ran on strongly to the line. His trainer Richard Hannon commenting on the win said: “He’s coming good now, he’s won a Listed and a Group 3 and I hope I keep him next year.” Bred by Peter and Sarah Fortune, he was sold at Goffs November Sale to Ballyphilip Stud for €37,000. His half-sister by Bushranger is catalogued at Goffs Sportsman’s Sale on the 2nd October.

Meanwhile at Baden-Baden SIGNS OF BLESSING (IRE) by Invincible Spirit collected the Group 3 Goldene Peitsche Sprint. Trained in France by Francois Rohaut, SIGNS OF BLESSING (IRE) led the stand side group, was headed and battled hard to regain the lead 100yards out.

Earlier on the card the Mark Prescott trained ATHENIAN (IRE) led home an Irish-bred 1-2 in the Coolmore Sponsored Baden-Baden Listed Cup for Fillies and Mares. A winner of six handicaps, ATHENIAN (IRE) who was recording her first Listed win, just held off the Rae Guest trained CAPE FACTOR (IRE). By Rathbarry Stud resident Acclamation, she was bred by Keatly Overseas Ltd.