Harry Rogers enjoyed one of his biggest training successes todate when saddling Minashki to take the Listed Cork Sprint Stakes.
Pat Shanahan quickly brought the three-year-old over to the stand side rail, and he drew clear over a furlong out to record a two-and-a-half-lengths victory over Mr Houdini.
'He did it well, and Pat gave him a good ride. The plan now is the Group 3 Ballyogan Stakes back here on June 2, although he needs some ease in the ground,' said Rogers.
Petite Histoire landed the odds with consumate ease in the EBF Race. The Kevin Prendergast-trained juvenile stole a march on her two rivals when bouncing out of the stalls, and Michael Hussey could afford to ease her down in the closing stages to beat Hazelhatch by four lengths.
The Desert Story filly, an eight lengths winner at Navan last month, heads next for the Listed Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh on May 25.
Jonathan Gooney partnered his second winner when Aye Aye Popeye just held the challenge of Zaraglen in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap, and trainer Jessica Harrington commented afterwards, 'He will mix it between the Flat and hurdles over the summer, providing there is a bit of cut in the ground.'
Missing You Too stayed on really well under Mick Kinane inside the final quarter mile to beat Miss Lauren Dee by two-and-a-half-lengths in the Mallow Handicap. 'Jumping hurdles over the winter seems to have sweetened her up, and I would say she has got a bit stronger,' was trainer Noel Meade's verdict afterwards.
Henry de Bromhead enjoyed a welcome change of fortune when Nosuch Thing defied topweight in the Carbon Group QR Handicap Chase. The eight-year-old gelding traveled smoothly for Mark Grant, leading at the final fence to beat Darkarrow by two-and-a-half-lengths.
The Fermoy Beginners Chase proved an incident packed affair, with Royal Plaisir justifying favouritism under Conor O'Dwyer as a number of his rivals fell in the straight.
Alan Magee
