Nikita In The Nick Of Time

Mick Halford´s Nick´s Nikita (7-1) gained a deserved victory in the feature race of the day at Cork, the Group Three Kerry Group Noblesse Stakes.

Not beaten far in her previous three starts this year, the four-year-old came with a determined run down the outside under Rory Cleary and won by a length from John Oxx´s Athenian Way.

John Dunlop´s Wannabe Posh fared best of a strong British Challenge and made a bid for home a long way out under Eddie Ahern.

But she was worn down inside the final furlong and was pipped on the line for second.

The market leaders, James Given´s Trick Or Treat and Paul Cole´s High Heel Sneakers, were ultimately disappointing.

Halford said: 'We´ve had this race in mind from the start of the season for her. This trip (a mile and a half) has brought out the best in her today. She´s come a long way from a handicap.

'She´s consistent and honest and she deserved that. We have no firm plans for her. I´m delighted for Rory though, he gave her a great ride.'

Niall McCullagh got a great tune out of Irish Jig (7-2) to collar May Meeting in the final half-furlong and land the Kerry Spring Water Rochestown Stakes.

A disappointment when well-fancied for the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom on Derby Day behind Ascot-bound Declaration Of War, he bounced back to his best for Ger Lyons in the Listed event to win by a head.

Declan McDonogh went for home with over a furlong to run on Kevin Condon´s May Meeting (8-1), a winner of her only previous race to date, but was worn down close home.

The disappointment of the race was Aidan O´Brien´s Observation Post, who was sent off the 13-8 favourite but had Kieren Fallon at work some way out and was well beaten.

Lyons said: 'He is a real tough horse and he has never let me down.

'He misbehaved a bit at Epsom last time, but maybe I had him too fresh.

'We´ve no major plans for him, he´s in some of the big sales races later in the year.

'I thought Niall gave him a great ride, but he really needs seven furlongs now.'

(C) PA Sport