Cork victory for Nolan’s French import French Flat import Colonia Victoria (7/4f) won her first Irish race at Cork today, landing the O'Flynn Motors Mallow (Mares) Maiden Hurdle for trainer Paul Nolan and jockey Sean O’Keeffe. Carrying the colours of owners Anne Coffey and Susan Spence, the five-year-old mare today raced prominently and finished well to see off Nytol, by 3.25 lengths. Nolan reported “she had a nice run first-time out over hurdles in Leopardstown and I’d say a step up in trip will suit her. There was no great pace on and I thought we would get done for speed but she jumped great in the home straight and that sealed it. “I thought the ground would be softer and I’d say it’s not next-to or near ‘winter soft’. We have no real plans made but we’ll see what mark she gets.” He added “she was sourced by Tom Malone, wasn’t overly expensive and had a mark around the high 90s on the Flat, so was decent. She is by a top stallion in Zarak and has value going forward.”
