AIDAN O’Brien has won the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes three times in the last decade with winners of the Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Irish EBF Futurity Stakes, so Henri Matisse must be considered a major player for the Irish Champions Festival Group 1 after quickening up smartly to maintain his unbeaten record at the Curragh.

Ryan Moore took his time on the Wootton Bassett colt, who had previously won a maiden here and the Group 2 Railway Stakes, and proved he had no problems with stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time.

It was an impressive change of gears for the half-brother to Group 1 winner Tenebrism, showing too much pace for Tyros Stakes winner Hotazhell on his way to scoring by a length - despite briefly shifting left and losing a little momentum inside the final half furlong.

Owned by Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Merriebelle Irish Farm Ltd, Henri Matisse also put O’Brien out on his own as the most successful trainer in Futurity Stakes history, with this representing his 17th victory in the race and taking him one in front of Vincent O’Brien.

“We’re delighted with Henri Matisse,” said the winning trainer, who notched a four-timer on the afternoon with his stable jockey.

“He's lazy and he quickens; that’s what he was doing over six furlongs. When he can do it over seven furlongs like that, you’d have to be very happy. He has that turn of foot.

“He’s green and is still a baby; he swerved when he got to the front. The plan is to go for the National Stakes next.”

Henri Matisse was trimmed to 10/1 (from 12/1) for next year’s 2000 Guineas with Ladbrokes.

Same Story

O’Brien and the Coolmore partners are also eyeing up a Group 1 target at the Irish Champions Festival for Bedtime Story, who didn’t win as flashily as her odds of 1/16 might have predicted but still remained unbeaten in the Group 2 Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes.

Facing four rivals - three of whom she’d already beaten in the Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown last time - the three-parts sister to Yorkshire Oaks heroine Content got on top in the closing stages to strike by half a length under Moore.

While she may not have blown everyone away - eased out to 5/1 (from 3/1) for next year’s 1000 Guineas with William Hill and left unchanged at 8/1 with most firms for the 2025 Oaks - the champion trainer was satisfied with what he saw.

“We couldn't be happier with her,” said O’Brien.

“We didn’t want to go too fast today and it was a prep for her next run in the Moyglare Stakes. She’s got a lot of early class. We didn’t want to empty her out today and she still had to get down and race close home.

“When you see her sister [Content] staying a mile and a half while still running free earlier in the week, you’d be hoping this filly will stay further too.”

Officer in charge

The Ballydoyle team also struck in the opening seven-furlong Coolmore Stud The Antarctic Irish EBF Maiden when beautifully-bred two-year-old Officer made a winning debut.

By Dubawi and out of Matron Stakes/British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes winner Hydrangea, the 7/4 favourite was half a length too good for main market rival Storm Piece (Ger Lyons/Juddmonte), with the third-placed Thrice a promising debut third for the same connections as the winner.

Officer holds entries for four Group 2s in Britain and Ireland, and the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes, between now and the end of the season.

O’Brien said: “I'm delighted with him. He's a quick horse and is relaxed. From stall 15, I was worried he’d be out wide from a bad draw on his first start but I'd say he's a nice colt. He’s a good two-year-old, compact and strong.

"He did very well to win from where he was. I’d say he’ll get further but he’ll be very comfortable at seven for the moment. He has plenty of options of where he can go next."

Four-timer up

The day got even better for the O’Brien-Moore-Coolmore combination when Fighter brought up a four-timer on the day in the mile-and-a-quarter Join Racing TV For Just 14 Euros Now Maiden at 6/1.

Carrying the colours of Masaaki Matsushima, this represented a big step forward from the Frankel colt’s previous three runs, having never previously gotten within nine lengths of the winner. First-time blinkers appeared to benefit the three-parts brother to Irish Derby winner Trading Leather.

Speaking after the four-and-a-quarter-length win, O’Brien said: “We thought he’d win last time at Limerick [when third] but he’s obviously a bit fitter now. Ryan liked him. I’d say the headgear helped him. He’s a bit lazy but ran to the line today. He might be one for a handicap now. He had no rating published before today but ran in a maiden for horses who hadn’t run above 70 last time at Limerick.”