Bwana steps up on promising debut

The 1/2 favourite Bwana prevailed by a neck in the opening five furlong two-year-old maiden at Cork as his previous racecourse experience stood him in good stead.

Patrick Prendergast’s colt was second at the Curragh two weeks ago on opening day of the new flat season and was a warm order to go one better today. He opened 4/5 this morning and was backed down to 1/2 on the off.

He broke smartly from stall eight under Declan McDonogh and led throughout. Coming to the furlong pole Sors and Ellenvelyn looked the only dangers on his outside.

With 150 yards to go Sors got alongside, but McDonogh and Bwana rallied and fought back to get up by a neck. Sors at 25/1 took second, half a length ahead of 50/1 shot Ellenvelyn.

“We left it a bit tight for an odds on chance, but he hates that ground. It’s worse ground than he ran on the last day and we won’t run him on it again,” Patrick Prendergast said.

“Six furlongs on good ground is his ideal conditions. It’s the sign of a good horse when they hate the ground and still win.

“I was going to run him in Dundalk on Friday, but Mr Barnes [the owner] couldn’t make it. He could run in the Marble Hill Stakes if the ground is nice.”

Bwana was the only juvenile to have had a previous run before this contest.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes