Ethical Diamond finds his sparkle again at Leopardstown

Ethical Diamond looks set to be on his travels once more after returning to winning ways with a hard-fought victory in the Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown.

Last year’s Ebor and Breeders’ Cup Turf hero had been out of luck in two starts this year, albeit in top company in the Dubai Sheema Classic and the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot.

Ryan Moore was in patient mood as the winner’s stablemate Gaucher cut out the running, but he was going smoothly three furlongs out and it did look entering the final two furlongs that the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old would win with something to spare.

That did not take into account the gallant Green Spirit, however, who pushed the 11-10 favourite all the way but ultimately went down by a short head.

“It was hard work, but he got the job done,” said Mullins.

“That’ll bring him forward. He’s in a few races in Ireland and England, but I think there’s a nice prize in Kentucky Downs in September over a mile and a half that we might go for.

“It’s a nice left-handed track, ground is usually as hard as iron. It’s a track where Grabel (trained by Mullins’ father, Paddy) won all those years ago (1990). So we know the place.”

Moore also took the other Group Three on the card, as Isaac Newton put his best foot forward in the Bahrain Turf Club Desmond Stakes.

Former Lockinge winner Audience set a healthy pace up front, with 6-4 favourite Sparan Nua in second and Issac Newton – having just his second start at a mile – tracking in third.

It never quite looked likely for Jim Bolger’s Irish Oaks third Sparan Nua dropped back in trip, although she showed a likeable attitude in keeping on for fourth.

Audience only gave way to Isaac Newton late on, and while the William Haggas-trained Needle Match flashed home on his first start since the 2000 Guineas, the Aidan O’Brien runner was a length and a quarter to the good at odds of 10-1.

O’Brien said: “It’s a good thing he is a miler. He’s unusual for a Montjeu. That’s what he was showing us all the time and we weren’t believing it. If you see him how he goes through a race, he canters through a race. He is fast. I’d say he’d even come back shorter if we wanted him, but I’d say he’s a miler. He’ll come back here for the Boomerang.”

Wall Street made an encouraging debut for O’Brien in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden, swooping close home to score by half a length at 7-1 under Wayne Lordan.

O’Brien said of the son of Sea The Stars: “He is obviously a good horse. He just took off. For him to do that, he had to be good.

“They didn’t go very quick. He’s a big horse anyway, but he will come on tons I’d say.”