Partnered by Kieren Fallon, who was looking forward to cheering home his dog Bar The Devil in last night's Irish Greyhound Derby, Dylan Thomas fought back on the far rail, once headed by Ouija Board a furlong and a half out, to regain the initiative close home and become the first horse to win the Irish Derby and the Champion Stakes in the same season.

An elated Fallon, who rides Hurricane Run in the Prix Foy at Longchamp this afternoon, received a hero's welcome on his return to the parade ring, and said of Dylan Thomas "He did well to battle back, because it looked like Ouija Board would beat me, but my fellow's tough and gets the trip well. He's a joy to ride, and I'm just glad it's over."

O'Brien, who was winning the Irish Champion Stakes for the fourth time, was equally relieved in the aftermath, and commented: "Obviously he's a very good horse with a high cruising speed, but when the filly came to him, he had that extra gear. It's a top class race every year, and this year was no different." Dylan Thomas will travel to the Breeders Cup for his next race, which will either be in the Turf Classic or on dirt.

Ouija Board and the thirdplaced Alexander Goldrun have won 11 Group One races between them, which is a magnificent achievement and a credit to their connections, but it was not to be their day, and they may have to wait until they are retired to the paddocks for a second sighting of Dylan Thomas who will join the stallion ranks at Coolmore when his racing days are over.

Red Evie, from the Michael Bell stable, was chasing her seventh win in a row in the Group One Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes confined to fillies and mares, and she accomplished the feat by the minimum margin from the fast-finishing Lockinge Stakes winner Peeress. Partnered by Jamie Spencer, the progressive three-year-old has coped admirably with the step up from handicaps to Group company, and may take her chance next in the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket.

Racing opened with an impressive performance from the Dermot Weldtrained newcomer Fly Free in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2-Y-O Fillies Maiden. The daughter of Halling carries the colours of Michael Smurfit, and she stretched away inside the final furlong under Pat Smullen to account for Muluk by four and a half lengths.

Fly Free is a graduate of last year's Goffs Million Sale, and Weld indicated that she will run next at the Curragh on Tuesday week, where she has a choice of engagements in either the Goffs Million Sale or the sales race for fillies.

Aidan O'Brien, who supplied the disappointing favourite for that race in the 12th placed, Catherine Linton, initiated a double half an hour later with success through 6-1 chance Frost Giant in the Group Three Bruce Betting Kilternan Stakes. Kieren Fallon's mount took it up just outside the furlong marker and contained the renewed effort of Cougar Bay by a head. Frost Giant has been lightly-raced and has not been seen out since missing the break and finishing in rear behind his stable-companion George Washington in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in May.

O'Brien was delighted to see the Giant's Causeway colt return to winning ways, and explained: "He came back from the Guineas very wrong behind, but we gave him plenty of time and he's getting better all the time. Kieren gave him a lovely sympathetic ride."

Last year's champion apprentice Chris Hayes is making a bold bid to win the title again this season, and he was seen to good effect with his handling of King Of Tory, the first horse he has ridden for Eddie Lynam, in the valuable Oliver Freaney & Company September Handicap.