Quartz crystal clear for O'Brien

Aidan O'Brien's Black Quartz added his name to an illustrious roll of honour for the Whitney Moore EBF Maiden at the Curragh. Both Teofilo and New Approach collected the seven-furlong event as juveniles while Sea The Stars was fourth on his debut last year. Black Quartz was only the mount of Johnny Murtagh when the well-bred Fighting Brave was pulled out, but the even-money favourite made most of the running for a controlled half-length defeat of Jim Bolger's Reiteration, who made a promising first appearance. Black Quartz was installed at 25-1 for the 2000 Guineas, and O'Brien said: "He was just idling in front at the end and Johnny said the ground is very soft. He's very babyish - he improved a lot between his first and second runs and will improve again."