CHAMPION trainer Aidan O’Brien added two further names to his list of top juvenile filly prospects at Tipperary on Friday as January landed the featured Listed Coolmore Stud Churchill Stakes before Ecstatic impressively won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.

Both fillies were ridden by Ryan Moore, with Ecstatic (2/1) beginning by scoring comprehensively from Lush Lips.

Afterwards, O’Brien, whose Royal Ascot winners Fairy Godmother and Bedtime Story along with Group 2 winner Truly Enchanting already dominate next year’s classic ante-post markets, reported: “Ryan was delighted with Ecstatic, loved her and said she’ll stay. She came forward from her first run. He didn’t think she was slow but thought she would get a mile and two furlongs next year. She has a super pedigree.

“We have plenty of fillies for the Debutante and can go gently with her now as she is a big filly. We won’t over-faze her.”

Easy winner

Thirty-five minutes later, January (1/2 favourite) was an easier winner of her listed heat, posting a smart performance in defeating Beckman by four lengths.

Regarding this year’s juvenile filly crop, O’Brien said: “The juvenile fillies look nice and look an unusual bunch at the moment. There are so many of them who could be smart.

“January is a promising filly and we’re very happy with her. The step up in trip suited her well, they went a right good gallop and that suited her lovely.

“It was good that she got to relax and learn a bit. She is a Debutante (Stakes) kind and could be a Fillies’ Mile type. She won’t mind going up further in distance in time.”

AIDAN O’Brien’s former stable jockey-turned-trainer Johnny Murtagh won the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden with his own Emerald Harmony (7/2), under his retained rider Ben Coen.

The Soldier’s Call filly had finished placed on each of her previous starts and today won readily from Red Hugh O’Donnell.

Murtagh’s assistant Denis Lenihan said: “She deserved that and seemed to improve at home since her Bellewstown run. It was nice that she came here and did that today.

“A fast five furlongs suits and she seems to be one of those fillies that is getting the hang of sprinting now. Hopefully she could be one to improve into those sprint Premier Handicap races now. Johnny owns her himself so I’m sure he’ll be delighted.”

Coen completed a double in the following Junction Gastro Bar & Guesthouse Handicap on Jimmy Barcoe-trained, Yvonne Hennessy-owned Nouvel Espoir, which was one of four 5/1 co-favourites, as they filled the first four placings.

Nouvel Espoir held Realtin Fantasy by three-quarters of a length, with a head to I’m Spartacus in third, while similarly-priced Reinforce finished fourth.

Barcoe later reported: “He had a very good run the last day at the Curragh and the runner-up has since won, so it gave the form a great boost.

“It was nice for him to bring that form here and this good quick track suited. He is a well-bred, strong horse and it is lovely to have him.”

Made up for

Not Just Any Eagle (7/2 favourite) made up for an unlucky recent defeat at Down Royal when landing the concluding Gain The Advantage Series Ladies Handicap, for trainer Pat Flynn and the gelding’s regular jockey Robyn Donaghue-Leahy.

Afterwards Flynn said: “He was in savage form, I really fancied him today although I didn’t know whether they’d go fast or slow, so everything had to go right for him. They went fast but Robyn was clever enough to take her time.

“At Down Royal the last day, Robyn’s foot came out of an iron when she thought he’d have won but he won today instead. He is a nice horse and hopefully will win again.”

FINSCEAL Annie (6/1) provided owners the Legends Galore Syndicate with a memorable success in the Donovan Transport Handicap, as the Ciaran Murphy-trained filly gained a maiden win under Jamie Powell.

Held up mid-field, the three-year-old progressed to lead inside the final furlong and finished well to beat Bucaneer’s Spirit by a length and a half.

Trainer Murphy stated: “We bought her out-of-training at Goffs and there were a few issues afterwards but the owners were patient and she had a lovely run at Killarney the last day. To build on that today was great and she dropped in trip. My horses seem to be coming good now.

“The syndicate are from everywhere; there are 10 or 12 and Jack Moran, who runs some of my syndicates, put them together. There are a few local people, some from Cork and for some it is their first winner and they are having a great evening.”

Star Harbour (3/1) registered a sixth career success when landing the four-runner Cregan Electrical Ltd. Race for trainer Ado McGuinness, owners Total Recall Racing Club and jockey Adam Caffrey.

Ninety-eight-rated Star Harbour finished well to edge past Longbourn late in the final furlong, scoring by a half-length, with McGuinness reporting: “He has been a great horse, the lads have had a lot of fun with him. We had made entries for him next week but that win might stop us running him, as he’ll get a 7lb penalty. A win is a win though and we’re delighted.

“Adam gave him a good ride and while I thought we were in trouble early on, he would prefer further, although in the past had been placed in Lincolns and Galway Miles. He isn’t slow-slow but is a typical Sea The Stars being a late developer.

“He is a high-class fun horse, is well handicapped over hurdles so will probably see a hurdle again before the year is out.”