DERMOT Weld’s Zhukova was the equine start of the show at Cork on Saturday, winning the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Noblesse Stakes. However, the day belonged to Gold Cup winning trainer Jessica Harrington who registered her first flat treble and in the process provided another notable feat for her daughter Kate Harrington, who owned two of her winners.
The Harrington ladies began by winning the second race, the Most Stylish Easter Sunday Handicap, with Lady Derrynane (7/1), who arrived from off the pace to win under jockey Tom Madden.
Kate Harrington, the winning owner, represented her mother, the absent winning trainer, and she said: “She wintered well and had been dropped 3lbs over the winter while Tom (Madden) also claimed 5lbs.
“It’s great for Tom to have a winner - he’s in the yard every day and I’m delighted for him.
“She’ll appreciate any ground and myself and Mum will have a chat and see where we go from here - she is for sale though.”
An hour later, Caherdaniel (10/1 in the morning in to 5/1 at the off), landed the Blackwater Maiden for the Harringtons, winning under jockey Colm O’Donoghue. The son of Fastnet Rock finished well to edge past Pocketfullofdreams close home, for a neck win.
Kate Harrington later commented: “That’s my first double as an owner so it’s great.He had a lovely debut run last year but was a big weak horse. He was since gelded and did very well over the winter.
“The more work we have been doing, he has been thriving and he’ll definitely come on from that. I’ll chat with Mum and see where we go next but he is also for sale.”
Jessica Harrington completed a treble in the next race, the Buy Online At Corkracecourse.ie Handicap as the Flyers Syndicate-owned Light That completed a personal double for Harrington’s stable jockey O’Donoghue when holding on for a half-length win over The Last Marju.
Kate Harrington later joked: “Mum said she’s staying at home to do the mowing more often!”
She added: “He did that well and we always thought he had a nice flat rating. Has very good form over hurdles too and will kick on now for the Punchestown Festival. He’ll jump a fence no problem to him and hopefully if he gets higher, could go for the amateur handicap at Galway.
“Colm got down to a low weight to ride him and is a great asset to the yard. The whole team at home do a great job and Colm rides out in Ballydoyle every morning but comes up some days to ride late work in the afternoon.
“Our new gallop is fantastic and is a serious asset to the yard - it means we don’t have to go to the Curragh to work horses now and it’s great.”
Dual Group 3 winner Zhukova earlier justified odds of 1/3 on her seasonal reappearance in the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Noblesse Stakes, scoring a comfortable two-length win, under Pat Smullen, over Island Remede for Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez.
Winning trainer Dermot Weld was represented by his son Kris Weld, who said: “That was pleasing - she was a bit idle over the last furlong but you’d imagine she’ll improve from the run. She’s obviously a mare we’re very fond of and will be going back up to group company next .
blue wind
“The Blue Wind might be a suitable race next, she won it last year and good ground would be fine. It’s fitting she won today as her dam (Nightime) won her maiden here on Easter Sunday before winning the Irish 1000 Guineas.”
The day began with Ger Lyons’ Qatar Racing Limited-owned Gold Spinner (7/1 in the morning in to 4/1) winning the opening Mallow Maiden, under jockey Colin Keane. The son of Pivotal was produced to lead over a furlong out before holding on for a neck win over Born To Play.
Afterwards Lyons’ brother Shane Lyons said: “We’re very happy with that - he ran greener than we thought for one of ours at Naas but was always going to improve and again was a bit green today.
“He’ll improve over a bit further but we’re delighted he won over a mile today, knowing he wants further. He has a little bit of class and we like him. Colin said he doesn’t want extremes of ground.”
Top National Hunt owner J.P. McManus was on the mark in the €25,000 Cork Handicap with his new recruit Roconga who led home a one-two for his trainer Edward O’Grady.
Roconga, under jockey Seamie Heffernan, raced in rear of mid-division before making steady headway in the home straight, eventually leading inside the final furlong to hold stablemate Le Vagabond by a neck.
PLEASED
O’Grady commented: “He won over one mile, four furlongs at Dundalk but being a bumper winner, we always thought he wanted further than this (one mile, two furlongs).
“He is 17hh and maybe has now got a bit stronger and I was pleased with both of them (also runner-up Le Vagabond). Both will go to Punchestown for a couple of handicap hurdles next and will mix it for the summer.”
The concluding corkracecourse.ie Handicap was won by the Pat Martin-trained Aspen Belle, under Leigh Roche. The daughter of Roderic O’Connor was all out in the closing stages to eventually beat Laburnum Park by a short-head with a neck back to Ti Amo in third.
Aspen Belle carries the colours of Tim Brennan and Martin said: “I was expecting her to be in the first six and was definitely expecting my other horse (fourth-placed No Way Jack) to also be in the first six.
“Seven furlongs is as far as she wants and she needs an ease - that’s why we skipped Dundalk with her.
“She is a bit of a fuss-pot and we won’t run her back quickly.
“I’m delighted for my father-in-law (Brennan, owner) as he has plenty of the family.”
Acting Stewards
C. O’Mahony, S. McDonogh, Ms F. Ward, H. Hynes
HORSES TO FOLLOW
BORN TO PLAY (J. G. Murphy) He finished well in second place and should take beating in a similar maiden next time.