Progressive Massinga lands Cork feature Massinga completed a double for Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen at Cork today when claiming the featured Noblesse Stakes at the Mallow track. Like fellow Aga Khan-owned filly Shahzeena in the first the winner was a warm order in the mile-and-a-half Listed contest. Queen Of Alba took them along but was claimed by Altesse with over two furlongs to run. Jim Bolger's filly was soon tackled by Massinga, however, and she got on top at the furlong pole. The 8/11 favourite (6/4 this morning) kept on strongly in the closing stages to post a two-and-three-quarter length verdict. Massinga was making her first step into pattern company having won a maiden and handicap last year for connections. "She is a good, proper mare who will probably come back to Cork for the Munster Oaks in June," said Weld. "If we get a wet spring she could drop back to ten furlongs in the Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh next month but if we get a nice spring she is more likely to run in the Munster Oaks. "She is very effective on that ground but isn't limited to it, and will be the real deal in the second part of the season." (Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
