ONLY MINE (IRE) gained a deserved win at Group level when running out a commanding winner of the Lacken Stakes on Sunday, the six furlong feature race of the Royal Ascot Trials meeting at Naas. Twice Group-placed and a Listed winner as a juvenile, the Joseph Murphy-trained filly finished second to Washington DC (IRE) on her second three-year-old start in a Listed race at Navan on ground described as good to firm. Once again ridden by Gary Carroll and racing on ground with a bit more ease, she immediately took the rail at Naas, disputing the lead until halfway, before regaining the advantage two furlongs from home and was ridden clear before the furlong pole, staying on well to notch a winning margin of two and three parts of a length. She overturned her Navan form with Washington DC (IRE) who finished second, while British raider Aclaim (IRE) finished two and a half lengths behind him in third.

The first Group winner by Coolmore Stud sire Pour Moi (IRE) could add to her sire's tally in Saturday's Ballyogan Stakes at the Curragh, with the winning trainer adding that the Prix Maurice de Gheest could factor later in the year. Owned by Mrs Regalado-Gonzalez, ONLY MINE (IRE) was bred by Marguerite Weld and was sold by the Castlebridge Consignment at the Goffs Orby Sale, where she was bought for €80,000 by Crampscastle Bloodstock. Her Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) dam, Only Mine (IRE), was a Listed winner and Group-placed for Dermot Weld, and is a full-sister to a Listed winner. Further down the line, their family has produced numerous top-class fillies, including Prix Saint-Alary winner Cerulean Sky (IRE), champion three-year-old filly L'Ancresse (IRE) and Irish Oaks heroine Moonstone.

Talented two-year-old fillies proved their worth in the previous race, the Listed Coolmore Stud EBF Fillies' Sprint Stakes over six furlongs, which was won by Aidan O'Brien's very progressive CUFF (IRE). The daughter of Galileo (IRE) showed an excellent attitude when fourth on debut at Navan and still looked green next time out at Naas, where by gained her first win by a short head. Reunited with Ryan Moore, she broke well from stall nine of 13 before moving to the inside rail, where she enjoyed cover until her rivals began to hustle and bustle. Luckily, a gap appeared, through which she quickened through well, running on to score by three lengths, with six length debut winner Yulong Baobei (IRE) closest on the line.

O'Brien said afterwards, “She´s an improving filly. She was unbelievably green when Seamie Heffernan won on her last time but she has come forward again. It´s unusual to see a Galileo (IRE) starting off over five, but she´s very pacy. We´ll have a look at the Albany Stakes.” Her full-brother Mars (IRE) was an impressive debut winner over seven furlongs and went on to be Group 1 placed in the St James' Palace Stakes, while full-sister Wonderfully (IRE) won the Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes over seven and Cape Cross (IRE) half-sister Nayarra (IRE) won the Group 1 Gran Criterium over a mile. Their Danehill dam Massara was a Listed winner and three-times Stakes-placed, and is a full-sister to top sprint sire Kodiac, as well as a half-sister to Haydock Sprint Cup winner and top-class sire Invincible Spirit (IRE).

Cuff (IRE) was completing a Listed double for the Aidan O'Brien/ Coolmore/ Ryan Moore trio, having taken the earlier Rochestown Stakes with PEACE ENVOY, who gave them further reason to celebrate being the first Stakes winner by their freshman sire Power. A winner first time out at Dundalk, before finishing second on his turf debut at the Curragh, the colt retained some greenness at Naas, colliding with the rail a furlong out, but kept on well to win by half a length. His sire's first three starts were successful, the third being a Group 2 win in the Coventry Stakes, and went on to win the Group 1 National Stakes later that season, gaining another top-level win as a three-year-old in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. A half-brother to Grade 1 and Group 2 winners and from the family of successful sire Footstepsinthesand, Power commands a fee of €8,000 at Coolmore Stud.

The first Stakes contest on the exciting card was the Listed Owenstown Stud Stakes, which saw the Godolphin filly ANAMBA display clear improvement to run out a two length winner. Michael Halford's charge was last seen finishing second to Coolmore (IRE) in the Group 3 Weld Park Stakes, having beaten the winner by a head on her Leopardstown debut. William Buick donned his usual blue silks to ride, chasing the leaders over the seven furlong trip and began to push before two furlongs out, taking the lead before the final furlong, staying on well to beat stablemate Hasanour by the aforementioned margin of two lengths. The win saw Shamardal of Kildangan Stud sire his 44th individual Listed winner, his son A Shin Erwin (IRE) having already added to his tally at Maisons-Laffitte earlier in the week.