The Listed EBF Blue Wind Stakes, named after the Dermot Weld-trained dual Oaks winner, appropriately went to the Rosewell House handler as Humilis make all for a hard-earned success at Cork.
Pat Smullen's mount was strongly pressed inside the final quarter mile, but held on by a fast-diminishing short-head from Queen Astrid with Jakarta Jade just a neck away in third. 'She is progressing into a very nice filly, and will go for the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, and then maybe for the Irish Oaks,' reported Weld afterwards by telephone.
John Oxx nominated the Listed Martin Molony Stakes at Limerick on June 7 for Mkuzi after the four-year-old defied top-weight in the ten furlongs Cork Handicap. John Murtagh sent Sheikh Mohammed's home-bred to the front well over a furlong out, and he kept on well to beat Wensum Dancer by three quarters of a length.
'We decided to try him once in a handicap, but his rating of 105 is likely to go up a few pounds after this. The track was ideal for him and they went a good pace. We will step him up now to a mile and a half at Limerick,' said Oxx.
The Goffs Challenge at the Curragh's Derby weekend meeting is the main target for Miss Serendipity, who opened her account at the second attempt in the juvenile auction race. The Michael Halford-trained filly was well-backed down to 5/4 favourite, and wore down main market rival Twice Royal well inside the final furlong to score by a short-head under Tadhg O'Shea.
'She is still immature, and would appreciate a step up to six furlongs,' said Halford, who is considering a supplementary entry in the Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh next weekend for the winner's half-sister Miss Emma.
Nathan Jones, acquired by Patrick Prendergast from his uncle Kevin, was prominent throughout in the six furlong handicap and stayed on really well for Niall McCullagh to beat Cool Cousin by two lengths.
