O'Brien leads praise for new seven-furlong track at Cork Aidan O'Brien was full of praise for the new seven-furlong track at Cork following a trial on Tuesday. A number of horses galloped at the track to test how the new section of course was bedding in ahead of the first meeting on May 10th, and the champion trainer was delighted with what he saw. "It's something really exciting. We never had a seven-furlong track like this in Ireland before, it's a flat, fast seven furlongs, horses don't miss a beat down there, the ground was beautiful. I think it's really exciting," said O’Brien. "It’s different class. This is a great track. Like I said, it's real flat, fast. It dries out really well, the ground gets lovely and quick. "We’re just very lucky to have it, a stand and facilities like this, stable yard, parade ring. It’s great for us to have it in this part of the country really." Fellow trainer Fozzy Stack added: "It’s an exciting thing for everybody, straight tracks are at a premium in this country and it looks in fantastic shape, it’s great. I think it’ll be a big addition to racing in Ireland." Champion jockey Donnacha O’Brien said: "It’s lovely, it rode lovely, very, very fair, obviously very even, not a single bump in it. Both horses I rode on were lovely and smooth, moved very well. "I was delighted with it, it’s a great facility and I think it’ll be a big bonus to Irish racing. A lot of tracks in England and abroad are going to be straight sevens, straight miles, so it’s a great bonus to be able to have one here on our back door." The experienced Seamie Heffernan added: "It was a very good six-furlong track and they've redone the surface with an extra furlong. I’m well used to riding on good tracks when I go to Britain, but the Irish tracks can be tight. "This will be a good, fair track. It’s what racing needs."
