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- Katie another for team Mullins
Donal Murphy
Katie another for team Mullins
Katie Connell comes home in front under Patrick Mullins
© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins sent out his tenth winner in the last ten days, as Katie Connell took the finale at Cork, the Cork Racecourse August Summer Festival Flat Race.
Making her debut in this two mile contest, the Caren Walsh owned daughter of Doyen was sent off the 2/1 favourite with Patrick Mullins in the saddle.
Settled in mid-division on the outer, she took closer order as they left the back straight, and was pushed along to lead with over two furlongs to race.
She was ridden and extended her advantage inside the final furlong, going on to score comfortably by four and a half lengths. Allardyce (4s to 11/4) ran on well to take second under Barry O'Neill for Edward O'Grady, while Analytical Mindset (12/1) was another half a length back in third for Derek O'Connor and Robbie McNamara.
Patrick Mullins said afterwards: "She was very very green all the way - she doesn't show an awful lot at home but is obviously better on the track and I think there's improvement in her.
"She loves that ground and I'm not sure what the plan is now and whether she goes for a hurdle or winners' bumper. She has a bit of ability and it is hard to say if she will be a winter mare but we will keep going with her until she tells us to stop.
"That (11st 3lbs) is about as light as I can do although I see there's a few nice ones entered in the Havasnack next week in Killarney at 11st!"
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes