Royal Ascot possible lands Cork gamble

Trainer Ken Condon maintained his 100% record in two year old races this year as his Mamba Noire made a winning debut in the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Maiden at Cork today, landing a gamble to win under jockey Shane Foley.

The daughter of Wootton Bassett, a E60,000 yearling purchase, was initially available at 10/1 yesterday evening, and having been back at 6/1 this morning, was returned the heavily supported 2/1 favourite.

In the race, Mamba Noire missed the break but travelled strongly once moving, and eventually scored an impressive two lengths win over Summerseat Mist .

Afterwards Condon, whose only other juvenile runner Romanised won a Navan maiden on debut recently, stated “she's very good looking and Tom Whitehead bought her as a yearling and he is a good judge.

“It has been so dry the past month, we didn't get a chance to get her on the grass and even though there was money for her today, I was worried would she be street-wise enough. She showed talent in the race, has plenty natural pace and Shane (Foley) said she was green when she hit the front and took a blow at the furlong pole so you would expect improvement from her.

“She'll go to Naas for a Listed race next - we had a filly, Newsletter, that was third in the Queen Mary (at Royal Ascot) in the past and I think this filly is better. It depends on how the next few weeks go but the Queen Mary is the target."

By Tom Weekes