Chica Power and Billy Lee won for trainer Pat Martin with son and groom Jack© Photo Healy Racing
Billy Lee added to his earlier win in the Munster Oaks when guiding the Pat Martin trained Chica Power to a 14/1 success in the first division of the Racing Again July 14th Handicap at Cork.
A dual winner on the polytrack for former trainer Ciaran Murphy, the five-year-old was recording her first victory on turf on just her third start for a new stable. Corballis Flyer cut out the early running in this big field, having most of rivals off the bridle well over a furlong out. Lee, always prominent on the eventual winner, went in pursuit entering the final furlong, heading that rival over 150 yards out. Swiss Army Officer threw down the final challenge staying on well up the far rail but he could find no extra close home, eventually going down by half-a-length.
Pat Martin said: "We went to Listowel the last day, rode her aggressively as we had a poor draw and got a good position but she didn't get home.
"Seven (furlongs) is her trip and we were pretty hopeful as Dylan (Browne McMonagle) liked her the last day. He is at Fairyhouse but we got a very good deputy in Billy. He said she travelled well, picked up when he wanted to and was straightforward enough."
The winning Zoom Buddies Syndicate were, appropriately, absent and Martin added "it was worth the trip down for me but the syndicate are from Dunboyne and it is a long way down. They'll be pleased though."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
