Amygdala got off the mark on her seventh career start as she took the opener at Cork this afternoon, the Summer BBQ July 11th 3yo Handicap, scoring under Wayne Lordan for David Wachman.

The chestnut daughter of Van Nistelrooy went close on a number of occasions last season and she finished fifth behind Pirita on her seasonal debut at Down Royal recently.

Sent off a 13/2 chance today she broke smartly from her ideal drawn on the rail and was prominent throughout.

She came under pressure two furlongs from home and she kept on best in the closing stages to get the better of Chiclet (11/2), under Daniel Redmond for Tracey Collins, by half a length. Wishyouwerehere finished best of the rest a further three lengths back in third under Pat Smullen for Eddie Lynam at 5/1. Artistic Integrity went off the 4/1 favourite under Colin Keane for Ger Lyons but he could only manage a disappointing fifth on his handicap debut.

Wayne Lordan said afterwards: "She has plenty of pace and she was probably going a step too quick over five furlongs so we anchored her back.

"I thought six was her limit but she might get seven. The ground is the key to her."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes