Kiss The Stars as King lords it

Connor King punched home another winner as Kiss The Stars scored in the six furlong handicap at Cork to the delight of trainer Tom McCourt.

“When your yard is out of form it’s best to get the in-form rider! Connor King has the magic touch. They all seem to run for him,” Tom McCourt quipped afterwards.

“Kiss The Stars has surprised us all since the day she was third in Naas. She has never showed us that sort of pace at home. She surprised me today as I didn’t think she would be sharp enough for her first handicap.”

King unleashed Kiss The Stars (16/1) with a sustained run over a furlong from home. She powered through into the lead and was always doing enough to hold Harpist by three parts of a length.

Punters had got stuck into Harpist hammering her price down to 6/4 favourite from 9/2 when the prices went up this morning.

Peggy’s Leg was half a length in arrears of Harpist in third at 5/1.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes