There was a sense of deja vu in the Group 2 Curragh Cup as the Barronstown-bred Flag Of Honour (3c Galileo – Hawala, by Warning) led home stablemate Giuseppe Garibaldi, just as he had in the Group 3 Eyrefield Stakes the previous season.

Racing over a mile and six furlongs for the first time, the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt made virtually all of the running under Ryan Moore, who pushed him along from over three furlongs out. Staying on well in the straight, he was pushed out to hold off his old rival by a length and a half.

The winning trainer commented after the race, “Flag Of Honour handled the trip and he could be a Leger horse and maybe a Melbourne Cup horse.”

Flag Of Honour is a half-brother to Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Foxtrot Romeo and Group 1 juvenile Air Chief Marshall.