THE rain-softened ground resulted in a spate of withdrawals at Cork on Tuesday evening where trainer David Marnane and owner MRC International enjoyed a double, which was initiated in the five-furlong handicap for three-year-olds by Allsortz (6/1).

The 80-rated gelding was prominent throughout under Luke McAteer and fended off Joyful Tidings by half a length.

“He is getting better with every run and is really finding in his races now,” said Marnane. “He is a progressive sprinter and there is more to come. I actually think that he could make a lovely dirt horse as he pings the gates, finds in his races and also has dirt racing in his pedigree.”

Perfect start

Maggie Walker (10/1) completed the Marnane/MRC brace when coming from off the pace to win the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden for juveniles over six furlongs. The debutante picked up well from over a furlong out to run down market leader Hanney Down and post a two-length victory under Andrew Slattery.

Marnane explained: “She is a lovely filly who Amy (Marnane, niece) bought, and my brother Ed recommended the stallion King Of Change, so between the two of them they came up trumps.

“I personally thought she would be a seven-furlong or a mile filly, but she showed class today. She hadn’t done much at home but she had breezed really well, so it wasn’t a surprise she won.”

THE Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden over five furlongs resulted in a decisive success for Belle Of The Ball (3/1 joint-favourite). The Mohaather filly broke well and made all under Shane Foley to post a four-length victory over Sirocco Sands.

Representing trainer Jessica Harrington, Richie Galway reported: “She has worked well all spring and had a nice run in the Curragh although we find it strange, given her pedigree, that she is as quick as she is.

“Ourselves (Omega Racing), Jason Morris - whose daughter Belle gives this filly her name - and an American friend of mine, Russell Jones, own her in partnership so it is great to pick up the (€50,000 Goffs) bonus too.”

Homebred

Jordan Breeze (3/1 favourite) was another prominent racer to thrive over five furlongs as he landed the 0-60 handicap under Robyn Donaghue-Leahy. The Starspangledbanner gelding gained a narrow advantage a furlong out and went on to win by three-parts of a length.

Pat Flynn, who trains the winner for his wife Catherine, said: “We bred him ourselves and his dam won here. His brother Beauty Waves is a serious horse in Hong Kong and has won a Group 3 over there.

“He goes on every ground and will go for something similar now, and he could go six furlongs too.”

More to come

For the third year in a row, the fillies’ maiden over a mile and a half saw a four-year-old prove too strong for younger rivals as Carmel’s Phoenix (5/1) won in good style under Gary Carroll.

The Phoenix Of Spain filly asserted over a furlong out and kept on to win by two and a quarter lengths.

Winning trainer Mark Fahey said: “She ran very well in a listed race here in April and a mile and a half is definitely as short as she wants. Gary was brilliant on her and got her switched off.

“I’m delighted for Pat McCarthy (breeder and joint-owner) and John Young (joint-owner), who can’t be here, and she is a nice filly to look forward to.”

THE Kevin Coleman-trained Pacioli (6/1) built on last month’s debut fifth at the track to take the seven-furlong maiden under Colin Keane. The Due Diligence gelding was ridden to lead over a furlong out and, despite being green and wayward in front, kept on well to score by a length and three quarters.

Coleman explained: “He will now go to the July Sales. We have to trade on these horses and the Atomic Racing ones aren’t kept beyond their three-year-old careers.

“There is plenty of improvement in him, as he missed all of last year’s education and we didn’t even get him away to the Curragh gallops this year either. We ran him as these horses really have to be out before Royal Ascot to be worth any money.”

Course form

John O’Donoghue-trained three-year-old L L Koulsty (7/2) gained his second course victory in the apprentice handicap over seven furlongs.

The winner and eventual runner-up Smoke Em Out were at the head of affairs throughout, with Rory Mulligan’s mount going on to score by a length and a half in the colours of Dr Marcella Burns.

O’Donoghue said: “He stays a mile but I think he is better over seven and he relaxed fine with the cheekpieces off.

“We will come back here during Royal Ascot as there is a nice handicap for him, when he’ll be in off a light weight in a better race.”

Family affair

Reserves finished first and second in the mile-and-a-quarter handicap as Deuteronomy (22/1), ridden by Nicola Burns, returned to form to beat Miss Crinshawn by a neck. The seven-year-old recorded a hat-trick last season and produced a similarly late challenge on his latest start.

Winning trainer, and father of the winning rider, Robbie Burns said: “He is a lovely little horse; he is special to us.

“I’m delighted for Tony McLoughlin (owner), who is a great help to me. He is competitive down in this grade.”