Review: Impressive Loch Lein takes the spoils at Cork Racecourse in Mallow

THE Jessica Harrington-trained Loch Lein created a very favourable impression at Cork’s flat fixture by winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Two-Year-Old Maiden over six furlongs.

Loch Lein, having come second to St Mark’s Basilica at The Curragh last month, was the clear form choice and she was well in command from under two furlongs out. The winning daughter of Invincible Spirit bounded clear inside the final furlong to beat Queen Carriage by six lengths under Shane Foley.

Mrs Harrington’s daughter Kate reported: ”She’s a lovely filly that’s thriving on her racing. We’ve always thought a lot of her and she has an entry in the [Group 1] Cheveley Park Stakes in Newmarket. “

The Harrington/Foley combination went on to record a two-timer as Ace Aussie landed the following Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C & G) Two-Year-Old Maiden over six furlongs.

Ace Aussie, runner-up on his only previous outing at The Curragh in late June, moved through to lead one and a half furlongs and he was always in command thereafter with two and a quarter lengths separating him from Colour Sergeant.

“We let him furnish after his first run at The Curragh," remarked Kate Harrington of Ace Aussie. “He’s a lovely horse that’s still higher behind and he will have one more run this year.”

The featured race was the Tetrarch Stakes, a listed contest for three-year-olds’ over seven furlongs, and Johnny Murtagh continued his terrific season by sending out Aztec Parade to oblige under Colin Keane. Aztec Parade, who was rated 96 coming into this race, was always well positioned and he asserted in the closing stages to see off Free Solo by one and a quarter lengths.

Former champion jockey Keane disclosed of Aztec Parade: ”He’s a big long-striding horse that galloped all the way to the line. You can imagine with the size of him that he will be a better horse next year.”

The opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Two-Year-Old Fillies’ Maiden over a mile went the way of the Aidan O’Brien-trained High Heels.

A daughter of Galileo, High Heels showed the necessary improvement from her second-placed effort in a Gowran Park maiden in early July by sweeping to the front with Seamie Heffernan one and a half furlongs out. High Heels was always in command thereafter and the victorious daughter of Galileo accounted for Boyne River by one and three-quarter lengths.

Boyne River’s handler Joseph O’Brien went one better as his Magnanimous sluiced home under top-weight in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Premier Nursery Handicap. Magnanimous always travelled powerfully and he stormed clear for Shane Crosse inside the final furlong to dismiss Amber Kite by two lengths.

Handler O’Brien’s representative Brendan Powell remarked of Magnanimous: “He travelled and relaxed and then quickened up today. He has got better on this good ground and I’d say that he’s not finished for the season yet.”

The Jim Bolger-trained Assurance, who came third on her penultimate foray at Roscommon in June, put her experience to good use by capturing the Thanks To All The Frontline Workers From Cork Racecourse Fillies’ Maiden with Kevin Manning. Assurance, having a seventh career start, made all the running and she held on determinedly to deny Secret Pulse by a head.

Jockey Manning reported: “She was due a turn as she had been knocking on the door in some good maidens.”

The judge was called into action following the first division of the Mallow Handicap with less than a length covering the first five home and the verdict went to the Willie McCreery-trained Petticoat Rule, the mount of Billy Lee.

Victory was much more clearcut in the second division of this concluding contest as the Eoin McCarthy-trained mare Fascinating Spirit made most of the running with Joe Doyle to beat Scherzando by two lengths.

There’s racing again at Cork next Wednesday, September 16.