Lavery's Fire on the up Hillcrest Fire scored on her fourth outing when landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Fillies Maiden at Cork. Hillcrest Fire (Ronan Whelan up) and Furiosa were always to the fore and they had this ten furlong event between themselves from before the quarter mile pole. In the end Hillcrest Fire had three and three parts of a length in hand over her aforementioned rival. There were nine lengths back to Two For Tea in third. "We've always liked her and Ronan (Whelan) thinks a step up in trip would be no harm for her and I think she's a galloper," said winning trainer Sheila Lavery. "I think the ground was marginal for her and I'd have loved another shower of rain before the race but took a chance. "The more racing she does, the more gears she'll get and she's learning to pick up. I'll see what the handicapper does now." W.J. Lee, rider of Faradays Law trained by W. McCreery, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount suffered accidental interference in the back straight and never travelled thereafter. S.P. Davis, rider of Cristal Icon trained by Thomas Mullins, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his saddle slipped in running. D. O'Brien, rider of Ruby Shoes, trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount suffered accidental interference in running. (TW & EM)
