Stephen Mahon trainer of Champagne Harmony© Photo Healy Racing
Champagne Harmony made it two from two as he took the winners bumper at Cork, the Follow Us On Twitter (Pro/Am) Flat Race.
The Stephen Mahon trained son of Stowaway impressed on his debut at Galway last month, but he proved easy to back today.
Having started at 5/1 last night the five-year-old gelding opened on-course at 6's before going off a 7/1 chance under Finny Maguire.
Settled in mid-division he was sixth with a circuit to race and made good headway on outer as they left the back straight.
He soon went third and was ridden to lead with over a furlong to race, keeping on well from there to hold off the late surge of Commeragh Trix by a head.
The runner-up was returned at 33/1 under Eoin O'Connell for Charles Byrnes. Danali (6/1) completed the placings a further three and a half lengths back in third under Ambrose McCurtin for John Joe Walsh. Lieutenant was sent off the 6/4 favourite and he finished fourth, a further fourteen lengths back under Sarah O'Brien for her father Aidan.
Stephen Mahon said afterwards: "The first thing Finny said when he came back was that he hated the ground and must be some horse to do what he did. He said he even hated it going to the start. He's a big baby.
"He has schooled over racecourse fences and chasing will be his game.
"Tom (Quinn, owner) twisted my arm to come here today as I wanted to go jumping. He's a three-mile horse in the making.
"He was offered big money after he won at Galway but fair play to Tom he doesn't want to sell."
STEWARDS REPORTS
The Stewards fined V.Clifford, trainer, €350 for lodging a passport in respect of Vicky Milan in which the vaccinations did not conform with the provisions of Rule 91. The Stewards allowed the horse to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the vaccinations were in order.
Miss M.M. Leahy, rider of Bellastar trained by Anthony Moloney, reported to the Clerk of Scales that her mount did not handle the ground.
The Stewards requested a report from E. O'Connell, rider of Commeragh Trix, placed second. The rider reported that his mount hung left in the straight. Having considered the report, the Stewards noted the explanation offered
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
