Duckett's Grove impresses Mullins in Cork

Duckett's Grove put in an impressive front-running display to turn over odds-on-favourite Mount Everest in Cork.

The 8/1 chance got to the front from stall 11 after a furlong in this mile maiden with Girolamo and Claim The Lady tracking him.

Mount Everest (4/9 from 10/11 in the morning) was off the bridle in fourth after three furlongs.

Duckett's Grove was ridden by Gary Carroll at the two pole and had his rivals on the stretch.

Claim The Lady looked the danger as she tried to challenge a furlong and a half down but she cracked at the furlong pole.

Duckett's Grove powered away to score by two and a half lengths from Mount Everest who plugged on to get up for second from Claim The Lady (5/1).

Trainer Emmett Mullins said: “He’s a lovely horse that I bought last year in Keeneland. All the two-year-olds I’ve had have been bought to be sold and he went to the Breeze-Ups. I’ve always thought a huge amount of him, whether everyone else that saw him at the Breeze-Ups did or not it didn’t look like it so I had to bring him home.

“Gary has sat on him a few times and he liked him. Everything he showed me at home he’s different class to any two-year-old I’ve ever had anything to do with. It’s great that he got it done today.

“He’s entered in a Group Two at Leopardstown (on Irish Champions Weekend) and if I still have him we’ll aim for that I’d imagine. He’s a gorgeous, big, galloping horse and all Gary said there was he’s going to make an awesome three-year-old.

“From day one everything he’s done just came to him straight away. That’s the fourth time the gates have opened in front of him and he comes out sharp. He’s just got it and a lot of them I’ve had don’t!”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee