COLIN Keane completed a Cork double on Friday where the champion jockey bagged the featured Group 3 Darley Munster Oaks on the Paddy Twomey-trained Magical Hope (3/1).

Riding for owners Steve Weston, Ballylinch Stud, Linda Shanahan and Patrick O’Brien, Keane raced prominently throughout on the four-year-old filly who went clear of her rivals two furlongs out, before beating Lemsairbat by two and a quarter lengths.

Twomey was also represented by the beaten 11/10 favourite Bubble Gum, who finished fifth. Afterwards the trainer stated: “Magical Hope is a nice filly who had a very good run at the Curragh on quicker ground than she’d love.

“I thought this was a good spot for her, Colin gave her a lovely ride and kept it uncomplicated. I liked her in France last year, I put a syndicate of people together to buy her and I appreciated their support, so I’m glad she has repaid them.

“She has good entries, is in the Pretty Polly. They are a bunch of owners who will enjoy a filly like her and she’ll be campaigned up in grade next. I thought Bubble Gum would run a big race, but she never seemed to be able to hold her position through the race.”

Initiation

Keane had earlier combined with his employer trainer Ger Lyons to win the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden on Susie Songs (5/2), which scored for owner-breeder Moyglare Stud Farm.

Initially held up in rear-division, Susie Songs quickened well to lead in the closing stages to edge ahead of Havana Anna close home, for a neck win.

Lyons reported: “She has been a queen, has been ready for a while but we took our time with the fillies this year. The only one I’ve started is Lady Iman and I’ve let the others come, but this one is a lovely filly and did today what we had seen at home.

“There should be plenty of improvement in her and, as with her pedigree, she wants seven furlongs.”

Value for Vega

Most valuable race was the €100,000 Mallow Handicap, which was won by the Sheila Lavery-trained Fort Vega (13/2), under jockey Rory Cleary.

The Lope De Vega gelding raced in rear in the 19-runner race, improved to chase the leaders over a furlong out and quickened well to lead in the final furlong, for a length and three quarters win over Heavenly Power.

Cleary commented: “He had the form as his last two runs were very good and the trip and conditions suited, so I was lucky to get the ride on him.

“He has been tried over a mile, but I think he is a true seven-furlong horse and it was a lovely race to ride in as we went even fractions and he got a smooth run through and did it well.”

ANDY Slattery has some big targets lined up for his Kevin Sean Tommy Walsh Partnership-owned Powerful Nation (6/5 favourite), which landed the Irish EBF Midsummer Sprint Stakes, under the trainer’s son Andrew Slattery.

The progressive 103-rated three-year-old colt raced with the leaders, led in the final furlong and scored by a length and a quarter from Songhai.

Slattery senior stated: “We knew he’d come on from Naas and I think he’ll improve from today. I was a bit worried when I saw the shower of rain and, while I have never run him on soft, he always gives us the impression that he is a fast-ground horse.

“I had a few races picked out for him. He’ll go for the Sapphire Stakes next and it’ll all lead to the Flying Five (Curragh Group 1 in September). That and the Prix de l’Abbaye (Longchamp) are the dream races. He is a great horse to have.”

Cross-card double

Mark Fahey completed a fine day as his Refreshment (5/1) landed the concluding Racing Again Friday 11th July Handicap, to give the trainer an across-the-card double.

Fahey’s I Bid You Ajou had earlier completed a hat-trick of consecutive wins at Fairyhouse and at Cork, Refreshment himself followed up a recent Leopardstown success, when quickening clear of early leader You Are Mine, for a two-length win.

Regarding the Refreshment Partnership-owned winner, jockey Gavin Ryan reported: “Prior to winning the last day, he had been ridden more forward and without any headgear which wasn’t suiting.

“I rode him for luck the last day, did the same today and the very, very strong gallop helped. There was burnout and a pace collapse at the two-furlong pole and I was able to get to the front very easy. He ran out a good winner.”

SHAY Wallace, 17, registered a winner on his first ride at his local racecourse on the Jimmy Barcoe-trained Nouvel Espoir (15/2) in the Ryan’s Cleaning Handicap.

Registering a third career success, Wallace moved the gelding to lead over a furlong out to eventually hold Verified by a half-length.

Wallace, from Ballynoe, commented: “It was always a dream to ride around here so to have a winner on my first ride is special. I have my licence just over a year and almost my whole family are here, so it is great to have them.”

Regarding the Yvonne Hennessy-owned winner, he added: “I was always happy in the race, he broke well, settled nicely once I left the leaders go on and he quickened away lovely.

“We were confident coming here as I rode him at Navan on Saturday where he flew home and even getting up on him in the parade ring today, I knew he was in the same form.”

Off the mark

Kilmood Susan (2/1 favourite) gained a deserved first success in the Rathbarry Stud Maiden, scoring for owner Rosha Lyttle, jockey Shane Foley and trainer Danny Murphy.

Reverting from handicaps today, the 72-rated daughter of Belardo raced prominently and went clear over a furlong out, to score by a length and three quarters from staying-on Glory To Be.

Trainer Murphy commented: “She was due a win after having four seconds and I’d say the blinkers helped today. We’ll go back handicapping now and we’ll stick to this distance.”