Ebro River created a minor surprise as he got the best of a thrilling finish to the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.

A Listed winner back in May, Ebro River had been out of luck in three subsequent Group-race outings – albeit never far away, most recently finishing a narrow fourth in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood last week.

He looked up against it with the likes of Railway Stakes first and second Go Bears Go and Castle Star, plus the highly-regarded Dr Zempf, in opposition and was sent off at 12-1 for Group One honours. Teaming up with Shane Foley for the first time, Ebro River was prominent throughout – but it looked as though those lining up in behind to challenge would swallow him up in the final of six furlongs.

However, Ebro River dug deep to fend off Dr Zempf by three-quarters of a length, with 6-4 favourite Go Bears Go a further head back in third and Castle Star a length away in fourth.

Ebro River is trained by Hugo Palmer, who saddled the colt’s sire, Galileo Gold, to win the 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes back in 2016.

The Newmarket handler said: “I’m absolutely delighted, really thrilled. I just looked at the race and I felt up to now, all the two-year-old races had been kind of in a bit of a heap. I looked at the race and I saw that Go Bears Go was a worthy favourite, but he had been beaten at Royal Ascot by the horse that we beat at Goodwood (Perfect Power, fifth in the Richmond Stakes).”

Trainer Palmer added: “I’m pretty sure he (Ebro River) was his first winner and he was certainly his first stakes winner when he won the National and now he’s his first Group One winner – Roger O’Callaghan (of Tally Ho) won’t be able to accuse me of not doing my bit!”

For Foley, the win provided a joyous culmination to a trans-Atlantic weekend, having been in New York on Saturday night.

He said: “I had my head between my legs yesterday and it was a long haul home (after Cadillac was beaten in Saratoga). I got in at 8am this morning.

“I flew private with Ryan (Moore) to Boston and it’s thanks to the Magniers for letting me jump on that plane as I wouldn’t have got home otherwise.

“I’ve had three rides today and three winners, including a Group One winner, so that’s brilliant.

“Racing is full of highs and lows so you need to enjoy the good moments.

“Hugo fancied the horse. He’d a good run in the Coventry and he’s tough and genuine.

“I just said I wouldn’t mind changing tactics as they had been dropping him in. It looked like there wasn’t much pace today and with that tailwind it’s hard to get them back.”

Meanwhile, Gustavus Weston made virtually all the running to reclaim his title in the Rathasker Stud Phoenix Sprint Stakes.

Joe Murphy’s charge won the six-furlong event in 2019 and was sent off a 7-2 chance this time in the hands of Gary Carroll, with British raider Light Refrain the 6-4 favourite.

Gustavus Weston was sharply away for Carroll and he was happy to settle on the front end with the five-year-old, who got into a nice rhythm in the early exchanges before pushing on for the finish.

Power Under Me was on his heels, but Gustavus Weston kept going all the way to the line, recording a two-and-a-quarter-length win, with A Case Of You beaten a nose in third.

Light Refrain never looked like challenging on the outside, eventually finishing fifth.

Murphy’s sights are now firmly set on next month’s Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock, for which Gustavus Weston is an unchanged 12-1 shot with the sponsors.

He said: “That’s a stepping stone to Haydock on September 4. Then we might come back for the Flying Five here and maybe the Abbaye.

“That was a very good performance and the time was good.

“We’ve found the key to him. He’s a more relaxed horse now and he’s stronger. He keeps on improving all the time.”

Cairde Go Deo stepped up on a promising debut run to claim an impressive victory in the Loder Irish EBF Fillies’ Race.

The daughter of Camelot finished second on her racecourse bow for Ger Lyons at Leopardstown last month and plenty clearly fancied her chances of improving on that as she was sent off the 8-13 favourite under Colin Keane.

Shane Lyons, assistant to his brother, said: “Obviously she had experience over a lot of her rivals, but Ger doesn’t want to over-race her this year. It’s all about next year and she has been telling us that she is crying out for a run.”