TRAINER Johnny Murtagh completed a Cork treble on Friday, where the ex-champion jockey supplied winners for three of his riders.

Murtagh’s Tashakour (5/4 favourite) began by landing the opening Welcome To Cork Racecourse Mallow Maiden under stable jockey Ben Coen.

Runner-up on a previous effort in March, Tashakour, who races in the colours of the late Aga Khan, raced in mid-field and, having led over a furlong out, scored readily by two and a quarter lengths from Suspicious Mindz.

Murtagh reported: “He had a great run in Navan last month and I thought he’d appreciate the better ground here. Ben felt he hit the line well and a mile is a good trip for him at the moment. We’ll take our time with him, he puts a lot into his races and we’ll go in small steps.”

The Irish St Leger-winning trainer later supplied jockey Jessica Maye with success in the Sign Up To Our Newsletter Handicap, on his own J.P. Murtagh Racing’s Final Voyage (10/1).

The keen-going eight-year-old made headway to challenge early in the home straight, and held on well for a half-length success from Iron Fist.

Yard favourite

Murtagh mentioned: “That’s Jessica’s first win for me, she joined me this year and it is great to have her on the team. She is great in the mornings, loves her horses and this lad is a pet in the yard, so the apprentices get a go on him.

“He is a lead horse at home and, if we have one to get by him, they usually run well. He also pays his way and I’m delighted to get Jessica a winner.”

Murtagh’s treble was completed in the concluding Buy Tickets Online And Save Handicap, as claiming rider Rory Mulligan scored a similar half-length success on Darius Darm (11/2), who was improving on three poor previous efforts.

The patiently-ridden Newtown Anner Stud-owned gelding was scoring from a rating of 63 and afterwards Murtagh said: “I am pleasantly surprised as he is a big horse, so I thought it would be a slow process with him.

“Rory said that when they quickened today, he got outpaced, but going that mile and a half distance really suits.”

JOSEPH O’Brien is another in-form trainer and recorded a double on the day beginning with the Declan McDonogh-partnered Enceladus (10/3) in the mile and a quarter maiden, for owners Flaxman Stables Ireland.

The Sea The Stars colt had been strongly pressed by Almazann a furlong out, but held on well for a head success.

O’Brien reported: “He is a fine, big horse who had a few nice runs last year. It is nice to get him started, but he is a big gross horse, so I thought he might come on from this first run, and I’m still hoping he could.

“We see him as a mile and a half horse and I suppose he is heading for a rating in the mid-80s now, so it would make sense to go into a three-year-old handicap of some sort.”

Double up

Half an hour later, the dual-Melbourne Cup winning trainer doubled his score with Limestone’s (7/4 joint-favourite) success in the Dine In Our Panoramic Restaurant Race.

Ridden by in-form Joey Sheridan, the Valmont & Al Shaqab Racing & Ballylinch Stud-owned winner had been strongly challenged by Mr Vettori over a furlong out, but rallied well to score by half a length, and following a stewards’ enquiry.

O’Brien reported: “It was nice to see Limestone cope with the better ground, as it was very testing when he won in Listowel (in September) and today’s race turned into a dash down the straight.

“He looks a nice type of horse and the tongue-tie had helped him during the winter, so we used it today. He will end up in a stakes race now and might have a look at something like the Gallinule.”

WELL-supported Buccaneer’s Spirit (morning 10s, returned 5/1) returned to form with success in the Follow Cork Racecourse Social Media Handicap, scoring for trainer Ian Donoghue, jockey Sam Coen and the local Hoggies Bar Syndicate.

Claimed for €12,000 having won last July, the five-year-old had dropped to the lowest 0-60 bracket and, having attracted market support, was neatly produced from rear-division to score by a neck from Land Of The Giants.

Syndicate member Paul Murray reported: “Ian (Donoghue) has done a great job with him, as he had a lot of issues last year and he has just come right now. To be fair, Ian has done a super job.”

Another member Michael Kearney added: “Buccaneer’s Spirit likes a mile and hopefully he can now stretch to racing over hurdles, as that’s what we bought him for. He’ll be out of the 0-60 bracket now and hopefully the handicapper won’t be too hard on him.”

Smart success

There was a smart winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Race, as the Natalia Lupini-trained Zia Zabel (10/3) quickened takingly to score for owner Peter Trainor and Derby-winning jockey Wayne Lordan.

Lordan said: “Zia Zabel had a good run the first day, but the ground was plenty slow for him on his second run. We thought he’d run a big race today and now has the chance of stepping up to a mile and a quarter.

“He is quite a big horse, so might also have been a tad weak after his first run, but it worked out today and I thought he won well. He is a fine horse and they always liked him even before he ran. They thought he wouldn’t be far away today.”