Formidable Chris Hayes is in top form as flat action returns to Cork Racecourse

CHRIS HAYES dominated Sunday's flat fixture at Cork by partnering a sparkling 965/1 four-timer.

The County Limerick native got off the mark by collecting the opening Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Maiden for two-year-olds’ over the minimum trip of five furlongs aboard Ken Condon’s Miss Amulet.

The winning daughter of Sir Prancealot stepped up from her fourth-placed effort at Navan less than a fortnight earlier by storming clear from over a furlong out to beat newcomer Zoom Call by a widening five lengths in the colours of Colm Griffin.

On this evidence, Miss Amulet seems a filly that should be capable of further progression this summer.

Handler Condon reported: “Chris [Hayes] said she was very professional and he thought that she could go on and have a nice future. Getting back type along the way would be nice.”

Hayes then teamed up with the in-form Henry de Bromhead to win the Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes for two-year-olds’ over six furlongs with Minaun.

Runner-up on her debut at Leopardstown last month, the Zoffany-sired Minaun always took the eye travelling well and she forged to the front under two furlongs out.

Minaun always seemed to be doing enough to just hold on and the 9/1 outsider of four runners, owned by Stephen McCarthy, ultimately fought off Artician by a neck.

This win was a particularly special one for de Bromhead as it was his very first Group winner on the flat.

He said: “Minaun will definitely stay further. She has a Moyglare entry and is growing and maturing the whole time.”

Hayes’ third winner came when he combined with ‘Fozzy Stack’ to land the Cork Handicap with Starlite Dancer. In a race that saw a little over a length cover the first four home, Starlite Dancer atoned for two recent disappointing efforts by accounting for Cartesienne by a short head.

It was also Stack that supplied Hayes’ fourth and final winner courtesy of Too Soon To Panic in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. The 85-rated Too Soon To Panic, placed on all four previous starts, was always quite well positioned and she made the best of her way home from two furlongs out to beat the fast-finisher newcomer Federica Sophia by three parts of a lengths.

Upton native Wayne Lordan kept his supporters happy by capturing the afternoon’s other Group 3 event, the Munster Oaks Stakes aboard Aidan O’Brien’s Snow. A three-year-old by Galileo, Snow avenged her second-placed effort in a Group 3 contest at Leopardstown on June 21 by leading from two furlongs out and then bravely holding off flattering outsider Snapraeceps by one and a quarter lengths.

Paddy Twomey sent out 12/1 shot Sonaiyla to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Sweet Mimosa Stakes, a six furlong listed race for fillies’ and mares’, in the hands of Billy Lee.

The visored four-year-old Sonaiyla, on her initial start for handler Twomey having been bought for €110,000 out of Michael Halford’s stable last November, was always well positioned and she led from half-way to contain outsider Back To Brussels by a half-length.

“She has now won her Stakes race so we will try and get a Group race next,” said Twomey of Sonaiyla.

Proceedings closed with the Cork Derby, a €40,000 race over one and a half miles and the first reserve Rayounpour returned to the winners enclosure under 7lb claimer Adam Farragher. The Michael Halford-trained Rayounpour asserted inside the final furlongs to beat stable-companion War Diary by one and three quarter lengths.

The next meeting takes place at Cork next Sunday, July 12.