Godolphin on Fire with Cork brace

Following on from Midnight Dress in the preceding heat, there was another Godolphin victor in the Buy Online @ corkracecourse.ie Maiden with Balefire (3/1) winning for Michael Halford and Ronan Whelan.

Whelan made the experience of the Shamardal colt count, off the front-end, beating Pacific Ocean and Phoenix Open by a length and a quarter and a head.

"You can draw a line through his run at Dundalk as he didn't really like the surface but he had a good solid run back on the grass," said Whelan.

"Drawn one with race fitness on his side, I was always going to use that and he was only doing enough there. He is a little timid horse and hopefully that can do his confidence the world of good and he can step up for here."

At the request of the Stewards, K.J. Leonard, rider of Cafe Con Leche trained by Denis Gerard Hogan, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount ran green throughout this race.

(TW & EM)