Royal Ascot plan with Twomey's taking two-year-old

Trainer Paddy Twomey has Royal Ascot aspirations for his Noche Magica (7/4) as the newcomer colt impressively landed today's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Cork, under jockey Bill Lee.

The son of Night Of Thunder jumped slowly from stalls but travelled powerfully through the race, easily beating once-raced Sturlasson by three and three-parts of a length.

Twomey later said "like plenty of mine on debut, he was green and fell out of the gates but once he was going and joined them, Billy said he was just going through the gears. He said that that ground actually blunted his speed. He doesn't want that heavy ground but I felt he was ready to start and run a nice race.

"I don't gallop horses in the spring and he had one breeze and a little half-speed with a three year old last week and that's all he has done so far - it is natural ability with him.

"Mark McStay bought him for a new owner to the yard Mohammed Ali Alsubousi, who is a Dubai businessman, and I'm delighted to have him and delighted he send the horse to us.

"Hopefully it's onwards and upwards now and while I didn't think past today, I'd say six (furlongs) is no problem and we'd love to go to Ascot in June. Wherever we go before then, I think he is good enough."