Ger Lyons was in jovial spirits after the unbeaten filly Babouche provided the trainer and owner/breeder Juddmonte Farms with their second success in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.

The Juddmonte/Lyons/Colin Keane combination were successful with Siskin in 2019, and in a case of déjà vu, their nearest market rival on Saturday was another Aidan O’Brien-trained colt carrying the emerald silks of Peter Brant. An impressive debutant at Cork before beating the colts in the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes, Babouche was sent off 5/2 to make it three from three, while Ballydoyle’s July Stakes scorer Whistlejacket headed the market at 8/13.