Darley and Coolmore jumped the blocks in the Irish classic trials at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Dunboyne Express (3c Shamardal – Love Excelling by Polish Precendent) won the 2000 Guineas Trial by nearly two lengths for trainer Kevin Prendergast.  “It was a satisfactory performance,” Prendergast said.  “The run will bring him on and he will go straight to the Irish 2000 Guineas.”

Owner-breeder John Connaughton offered Dunboyne Express at the 2009 Tattersalls October yearling sale but the colt was passed-in for 48,000gns.  Last year, he won at Leopardstown and the Curragh before finishing fifth to fellow Shamardal colt Casamento in the G1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.

His dam Love Excelling was bred in France and she is a half-sister to 2000 G1 English Oaks winner Love Divine (Diesis).  The latter foaled English St Leger winner Sixties Icon.

Shamardal’s European three year-olds from 2010 included French 2000 Guineas – Derby winner Loup de Vega.  

Ballydoyle filly Empowering returned from a short spell to score a convincing victory in the 1000 Guineas Trial from stablemate Wild Wind (Danehill Dancer).  She was last seen winning a Dundalk maiden in December.

Empowering (3f Encosta De Lago – Blue Cloud by Nashwan) is from a Listed winning half-sister to G1 racehorse and sire Bigstone.  She made virtually all the running to land a confident gamble at Leopardstown.

“She is a smart filly who got a mile really well late last year,” O’Brien said.  “I would imagine she will take her chance in the English 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.”

Encosta de Lago stood a one-off season at Coolmore’s Irish headquarters in 2007 and Empowering was one of six juvenile winners from that crop last year.