Deserved win for Achnaha in Cork finale

Achnaha got a deserved win to her name as she took the last at Cork this afternoon, the corkracecourse.ie Median Auction Maiden.

The Paul Deegan trained daughter of Haatef has gone close on a number of occasions in the past, finishing a good third in a Group Three at the Curragh in March, while also finishing second in a Listed contest at Leopardstown last November.

She was well beaten in the Group Three Blue Wind Stakes at Naas on her last start and back in maiden company today she was sent off the 8/11 favourite under Fran Berry.

Drawn on the rail she was pushed along on leaving the stalls and was settled in fourth.

She came with her challenge in the straight and was soon on terms, coming under pressure with two furlongs to race.

She had great battle with Muileta from the furlong pole and she just got the upper hand in the closing stages, scoring by a head at the line.

The aforementioned Jim Bolger trained filly had to settle for second under Kevin Manning at 4/1 while Zarawi was a further two and a quarter lengths back in third under Pat Smullen for Dermot Weld at 9/2.

Paul Deegan said afterwards: "I thought she looked beaten but in fairness when he got stuck into her she kept responding.

"I was worried about the ground but she handles it well and it is nice to get a win as she is from a lovely family.

"She will be kept going now and we will look for more blacktype."

With the ground good to firm, firm in places five of the twelve declared for this contest were taken out.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes