The first four finishers in Sunday’s Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh were separated by a head, a neck and a head. Halfway To Heaven, one of Aidan O’Brien’s five fillies, made the most of a ground-saving trip to win in a blanket finish. After a stewards’ inquiry, Tuscan Evening, Danny Grant up, who finished second was demoted to fourth for causing interference to Carribean Sunset. The latter was promoted from fourth to third. Mad About You was third past the post and was moved to second.

Seamus Heffernan was aboard Halfway To Heaven. He raced inside and timed his move to perfection. Halfway To Heaven had the lead with 450 metres to go and held on in a four-way photo. At 13-2, Halfway To Heaven was not as well fancied as her stablemate, Kitty Matcham, ridden by John Murtagh. Nahoodh, the 3-1 favourite, was held up and did not quicken when the heat was on. Saoirse Abu, Kevin Manning up, hardly raised a gallop. The win was worth 165,000 pounds to Halfway To Heaven. The time for the 1600-metre race on firm turf was 1 40.80 seconds.

There was a 10-1 quote on Halfway To Heaven for the Vodafone Oaks at Epsom Downs on June 6. Aidan O’Brien did not commit himself to an Epsom appearance. He said, “She has come on a lot. She’s consistent and Seamus gave her a great drive. The pace was solid and there were no excuses. Oaks is an option but the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot is a stronger option.”

Duke of Marmalade was the 1-3 betting favourite in the Grade I Tattersalls Gold Cup over 2,100 metres. Six ran and Red Rock Canyon set a brisk pace and had an eight-length advantage over the field with 800 metres left. Duke Of Marmalade was second and closed the gap as Red Rock Canyon raced past the 300-metre mark. As Duke of Marmalade struck the front, Finsceal Beo, the dual Guineas winner in 2007, came calling. The Duke held a slender lead and John Murtagh was hard at work to keep Finsceal Beo at bay. In the waning yards, Duke of Marmalade began edging away and won by a length and a quarter. The time was two minutes 15.77 seconds. The winner’s purse was 136,000 pounds.

Jockey Murtagh paid tribute to his mount’s courage. “It was a big win. He’s a good horse. The pace was quick and he quickened readily when the filly came. He did it in style.”

Duke of Marmalade was winning his second Group I race in May. The other success came in Longchamp’s Prix Ganay. The Coronation Cup at Epson Downs on Oaks day (2,400 metres) may be the Duke’s next race.

Later in the card, John Murtagh steered Hebridean, an O’Brien pupil and the 6-4 favourite, to victory in the Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes.

Jockey Declan McDonough was cleared to ride on Sunday after a fall on Saturday. McDonough scored on Subtle Shimmer, a 20-1 longshot, in the first race.

At Woodbine in Toronto, Canada, the $150,000 Grade III Connaught Cup, was won by Rahy’s Attorney. In the hands of Slade Callaghan, Rahy’s Attorney was prominent and stretched out to win readily at 16-1. The time for the 1700-metre race on the grass was 1 39.63 second. Royal Oath, a winner in the 2007 Royal Ascot meeting, carried the public purse and did not threaten.

Five distaffers went to post at Belmont Park in the Grade II Vagrancy Handicap. The purse was $150,000 for the 1300-metre event. Dream Rush, the odds on chalk, went a 22-second first quarter (400 metres) and got leg weary in the last 200 metres. Looky Yonder came from last to first to win at 9-1. Garrett Gomez rode Looky Yonder for trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr. Nothing succeeds like success.

Looky Yonder provided a bright spot for trainer Dutrow on a day when news coming out of Big Brown’s barn cast a pall over the racing fraternity. Early on Sunday, it was reported that Big Brown had suffered a quarter crack.

Dr Ian McKinlay, an equine hoof specialist, confirmed the news. Dr McKinlay said that the crack was not related to previous injuries. “It’s 5/8 of an inch and what Big Brown has is a slight quarter crack coming out of his inside heel, front left. It can be fixed,” Dr McKinlay asserted.

Reacting to the news, Rick Dutrow Jr said, “Ian (the veterinarian) assured me it is going like clockwork. It is going to be good and he’s going to run the same race. I am not worried.”

The news about Big Brown is the main subject of conversation in American racing circles. The Belmont Stakes will be run on Saturday, June 7.