Lake District and Pat Smullen well clear at Cork© Photo Healy Racing
Lake District was a warm order during the day for the seven furlong maiden that closed out Cork’s card and the money talked as he scooted home.
In the first-time visor and on the back of being gelded, the three –year-old got his head in front at the sixth time of asking. His consistent performances in five maidens beforehand had seen him finish no worse than fourth and earned him a mark of 77.
Pat Smullen brought Dermot Weld’s charge wide into the straight and the pair asserted their superiority to coast in by seven lengths at even money. He had been as big as 11/4 in pre-race trading. Inkerman obtained another placing in second at 3/1 for David Wachman and Wayne Lordan, half a length in front of Paul Hickey’s 16/1 shot Deep Speed This three-year-colt made up some nice ground in third on debut.
Pat Smullen, in the Sheikh Mohammed colours, commented: “His form entitled him to win a race like that. It was an opportunity.”
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
