Mikey Sheehy pictured after completing his double© Photo Healy Racing
Corky proved tough from the front, as she made all in the feature at Sligo this evening, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Connacht Oaks Fillies Handicap, providing Mikey Sheehy with a quick 54/1 double.
Beaten by just half-a-length in the Ulster Oaks at Down Royal in June, the Joseph O'Brien trained three-year-old disappointed on her most recent start at Killarney when fifth of six.
Sent off a 10/1 chance this evening, the Peter Savill owned bay was ridden from the furlong pole and kept on well in the closing stages, just holding off the late surge of Disco Boots by a short head.
The runner-up, who came wide into the straight, was returned at 7/1 under Ben Coen for Peter Fahey, while Dark Vega (5/2) was another length-and-a-half back in third. Bay Of Bengal was sent off the 13/8 favourite and she faded inside the final furlong, eventually finishing fifth.
"She was very tough and hardy and loved the ground," Sheehy, who won the previous contest on Your Honor said.
"She's not overly big and a tight little track like this suited her. I was able to kick her off the turn and get a couple of lengths.
"I was able to dictate the race and go whenever I wanted to go. Ben came with a fast run and hit the line good, so I wasn't sure if Id held on.
"The back-end of the year on soft ground is going to be her ideal scenario, so you'd like to hope that she can go on from this."
Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
