Tom Weekes
Mullins wins Cork's opening two races
Manitopark (left)
© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins' juggernaut rolled in to Cork today with two horses and out with two winners, as the Champion Trainer's Manitopark landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Mares) Maiden Hurdle.
Successful in five of six French flat races, Manitopark arrived as a 'bookies' horse' having met defeat in four Irish maiden hurdles at odds of 5/6f, 8/11f, even-money and 10/11f but today, as 13/8 'jolly', made all to beat 250/1 outsider Glory For Molly by four lengths.
Afterwards winning jockey Danny Mullins, also successful on the trainer's opening winner Farout reported “she was good, had the form in the book having been placed in a few maidens and put it together nicely. She was able to learn plenty from her experiences and was able to jump out and make all.
“She had been disappointing so far but those fillies, once they get a bit of sun on their backs they start to improve.
“She was a bit of a weak finisher on heavy ground but kept galloping on that ground so hopefully there's more to come.”