Furnace Creek and Luke McAteer © Photo Healy Racing
The James Barrett-trained Furnace Creek produced a fine front-running performance to land the spoils in the opening six-furlong maiden at Cork this afternoon.
Luke McAteer bounced out in front on the Divine Prophet colt and he found plenty inside the final furlong to record a length-and-three-quarters victory over Relevant Range
The 9/2 shot had been second on his debut at Naas in March before finding life a bit tougher in Listed company at Navan last month.
"Things didn't work out for him the first day and we ran him in a Listed race the last day to educate him and he ran a nice race,” said Barrett.
“We knew coming back down here, with a little ease in the ground, we were in business and he has really come on.
"He is learning all the time and I don't think he is the finished article yet but this is a good start.
“I think he'll go from five (furlongs) to seven and he'll probably step up to Group 3 and Premier Handicaps levels.
"I try and sell all my horses so we'll see."
(Quotes by Tom Weekes)
