VOLEUSE De Coeurs looks a filly sure to make her mark in Pattern company in due course after slamming her rivals in the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh yesterday.

Dermot Weld’s charge had run out a most impressive eightlength winner on her first attempt at two miles at the Galway Festival, a victory which earned her a steep 15lb rise in the weights.

Weld sensibly kept his threeyear- old fresh for this prestigious late-season prize and she turned what looked an ultracompetitive handicap into a procession.

The 6-1 favourite cruised into the home straight and apprentice jockey Leigh Roche was looking round for dangers with a couple of furlongs to run.

Talented mare Missunited was giving everything on the far side of the track in an attempt to complete a four-timer, but Weld’s youngster was laughing at her rivals on the near side and pulled right away to score by 10 lengths without being asked a serious question.

Weld was in Canada to see Princess Highway run in last night’s EP Taylor Stakes at Woodbine and his son and assistant Kris Weld, said: “We thought she would win and that has been the plan since Galway.

It was soft in Galway, but very different conditions today.

“It was real winter ground and I haven’t seen it as bad on the Curragh before. Leigh gave her a great ride and dad saw it live in Canada.

“She won like the decent filly she is. She’ll stay in training and hopefully she can pick up some black type next year.’’ Midnight Soprano got back on the winning trail in a thrilling Irish Field Finale Stakes.

The 11-2 chance disappointed on her latest appearance at Glorious Goodwood, but given plenty of time to recover, she bounced back to beat the staying-on Minsk by a neck in the hands of Chris Hayes.

Winning trainer Paul Deegan said: “I’m delighted and she’s holding her form well. She will probably go now for a Group Three in France.’’ Hayes had earlier struck gold on Seolan (13-2), who made it two wins from as many starts with a determined performance in the Staffordstown Stud Stakes.

The youngster won readily for Deegan at Listowel last month, since which she has been switched to the care of Paddy Prendergast having changed ownership.

Prendergast said: “A lot of the credit for this has to go to Paul Deegan. I really liked her when she won at Listowel.

“She worked very well last week and I would have cried if they had called it off.

“I hadn’t looked beyond today as we just wanted to get black type with her.’’ Odds-on favourite Maarek had to make do with minor honours as 16-1 shot Katla sprang something of a surprise in the Mick Ramsey Lifetime In Racing Achievement Waterford Testimonial Stakes.

Winning trainer John Grogan, who trains only one horse, said: “I worked her at (Tommy) Stack’s on grass. She did two bits of work and I think that crowned her.

“She could run next in a fivefurlong Listed race at Dundalk later this month, while there is also a race for her at Doncaster early next month. We’ll see how she comes out of this before deciding what to do.’’ Joseph O’Brien picked up a three-day whip ban on Maarek but had earlier partnered his father Aidan’s Magician (4-5 favourite) to an impressive success in the Mongey Communications European Breeders Fund Maiden.

The win moved O’Brien five clear of Pat Smullen in the race for the Flat jockeys’ championship.

O’Brien senior said of the winner: “He’s a lovely colt, and has come forward well from his last run.

“It’s possible but not definite, that he could run again this year, maybe in the Listed race (Eyrefield Stakes) at Leopardstown.

He’s a lovely moving horse, and the bit of rain helped loosen up the ground.’’ Madeira Girl (7-1) gave 17-yearold Gearoid Brouder a winner on his very first ride in the Stephen Quirke Memorial Apprentice Handicap.