Apprentice riders dominated at Cork on Saturday when capturing six of the seven races, with Colm O'Donoghue recording a double in the opening two six furlong events aboard Monalee Lass and Gianfanti.
Monalee Lass led well inside the final furlong of the Kanturk Handicap to beat Fair Replacement by a length and a half, and trainer Pat Martin said, 'She's had a history of disasters, missing most of last year after badly cutting a hind leg and nearly killing herself and John Murtagh in the stalls at Navan this year.'
The Aidan O'Brien-trained pair Gianfanti and newcomer Salt Lake City dominated the Fermoy Maiden, with the Danehill colt showing the benefit of experience in the closing stages to score by a length and a half. 'He was quickly away, always travelling well and I would say the first two colts are both quite useful,' said O'Donoghue, who is now on the 13 winner mark for the season.
Billy Lee and Helen Keohane have been two of the best young jockeys to emerge this year, and both added to their tally. Lee partnered his fifth winner when calmly producing Musical World to lead close home for a length verdict in the five furlong Cobh Handicap, providing first season Curragh trainer Ken Condon with his third victory.
Keohane recorded winner number eleven this term on Lake Millstatt in the Charleville EBF Fillies Handicap, striking the front a furlong out and holding on by a length from a pack of horses led by Kloonlara.
The form book was turned inside out in the EBF Median Auction Fillies Race where Great Idea made all under Jerry O'Dwyer for an easy four and a half length success over fellow 20/1 chance Dance Fontaine. The winner was well beaten off a mark of 74 in a Gowran Park nursery last week but Denis Quinn, who trains a mixed team of 13 at Sixmilebridge, Co Clare explained, 'She didn't handle the track or the ground at Gowran, and has improved a lot since. She also had the virus earlier this year.'
Alan Magee
