The Killavullan Stakes brought an end to the Pattern season in Ireland yesterday.

It might be, they kept the best wine till last.

As antipacated the clash between Born To Sea and Nephrite was a facanating encounter. It will have a tremendous bearing on next years classic picture.

Each colt had only the one run prior to yesterday. Their potential was about to be unlocked. Much had been made of the the fact that Born To Sea was a three parts brother to Sea The Stars. There was a quiet confidence about Nephrite.

The thing to remember here is that this was a trial and we may not see these two again until next year’s Newmarket’s 2000 Guineas.

They’ve had to be minded. Slight setbacks meant late racecourses débuts and we didn’t get to see them until September. Born To Sea won a listed event giving a sense he was more precocious than his illustrious brother at that stage while Nephrite won his maiden easily creating the impression he had a lot more to give.

The story of the race will be the reporting by John Oxx that his colt pulled up lame. Add the slight inconvience of the ground and overall this will be taken as a very positive trial for both trainers. Nephrite will have cemented his position as number two to Camelot in the pecking order at Ballydoyle while the same may be said of Born To Sea at Curraghbeg with Akeed Mofeed.

Come spring time that pecking order may have changed.