Going - Good. Overcast
Jackpot Pool - €1,599.30 Dividend - €495.30 Winning Units - 2.26. Placepot Pool - €20,648.38 Dividend - €200.50 Winning Units - 72.07. Days Aggregate - €137,885.27 (7 races). Last Year €158,867.48 (8 races).
Funchal shows plenty on debut at Cork
Patrick Burns bred her and had the two half-sisters with me, Devonshire who won a Group 2 and Hurryupharriet who won a Listed race, and he will hold on to this one for breeding. I was delighted to get her although he threatened that if she wasn't going to win a maiden not to run, so the pressure if off! I'm delighted for him as he is a patient man and I told him to wait until she got good ground and we'd be laughing. She'll get black-type because she made up a lot of ground from the back and was rapid in the last furlong. We've nothing in mind although if today's Listed race was in a few weeks' time, I'd run!
Screen Siren in the number one spot again
That was great and I was hoping for a bit more ease but she was good there and really enjoys this place. It was a mares' race she won last year and if I could find another race here it would be great. I think it is a super sprint track and I wish they would use it a bit more often. It was close and there's no harm in a bit of competition but dad is probably giving out because I beat him!
Geocentric pips her stablemate in Listed company
I’m delighted with that. They’re both going to stay in training. Geocentric is going to go for the Sapphire Stakes. She does things hard but, because she’s going to stay in training next year, it’s going to be exciting. When she gets stronger and she matures a little bit and learns to do things easily, we’ll have an exciting filly next year. The second filly (Pirate Jenny) was hunting for black type, and she’s got it. She’s going to be a much better filly over six furlongs.
Rosscarbery 'the master of her own destiny'
She’s tough, and looks to have improved again from Roscommon, which is great. She’s been great all spring, she’s done everything we’ve asked of her. I was hopeful she’d run a big race tonight as, up in trip, with the way she’s bred - a stout German pedigree and by Sea The Stars - I thought it would play to her strengths. Everywhere we’ve taken her, she’s given us a good day out. As she’s got stronger and taken racing, we’ve stepped her up in distance. She won her maiden, she made her way through the handicap route, and now she has won a Group 3. She's the master of her own destiny. I think a right-handed track is probably preferable. It was a good race, but I thought she was good enough to run well. She’s progressing all the time, and our hand is forced — we can only run her in one type of race now. Robert (Moran, owner) bought her as a yearling, a Sea The Stars filly, and I’m sure that getting black-type was the aim, and it’s great to achieve it.
Foley Hell Bent on winning Cork Derby
He didn't get the clearest of runs up the home straight at the Curragh the last day and we rode him to stay the trip today. Shane thought he definitely stayed and we threw the blinkers on. The horses were a little quiet (when he previously ran in May) and he loves when he can get out and get that nice lead. Shane says he could step up again, stays all day and loves being out in front dictating. He is a lovely big horse and he is in the July Sale and, while we have to talk to connections to see if he goes, he could be a beautiful dual-purpose horse and is only starting to fill his frame.
O'Neill seals first success through Sondheim
I'm from Kildare and am based on the Curragh, I have my licence two years and he is the only horse I have and I haven't had many runners. I always wanted to do it (train) so I just went ahead and did it. I was with Bill Farrell and with John O'Donoghue and I was in England with Richard Spencer. I've been around a bit. I work full-time in John O'Donoghue's and do him (Sondheim)in the mornings before I go to work and in the evenings afterwards. He's the only one I have. It is just a hobby at the minute for the minute and then hopefully we will see how it goes.
