Sharinay gets Halford and Collins off the mark for season

The once-raced Aga Khan owned gelding Sharinay provided Michael Halford and Tracey Collins with a first winner of the new season when staying on best to land the opening Welcome To Cork Racecourse Mallow Maiden.

A promising sixth of 17 on his sole juvenile outing last year, the son of Harzand benefitted from that experience to run out a game winner of his three-year-old debut.

Prominent throughout under Ronan Whelan, Sharinay moved second in pursuit of leader Super Sox over two furlongs out. Shaken up to get closer inside the final furlong, Whelan drove his mount to the front over 100 yards out, keeping on strongly to win by two lengths.

Super Sox held on for second, with the Joseph O'Brien trained Bad Desire staying on nicely back in third.

Michael Halford said: "He was only our second runner on the turf this year and this is our first runner for His Highness. The horse had a promising run last year, had been working well and Ronan kept it very simple.

"He was drawn wide enough, I said to Ronan to go forward, to get a lead and he said he hit the line well. That is a good trip for him and I don't think the ground is as testing as is described ('soft to heavy').

"He tended to be a little keen and we were riding him out in the hood at home but I'm not sure he needs it - maybe it was the trainer needed calming down!

"I'll chat with Pat (Downes, owner's racing manager) and see where we go next."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.