Twinkle scores in first time cheekpieces

The John Oxx trained My Twinkle (5/1) got off the mark on her sixth career start as she stayed on best to win 'The High Kings' Apprentice Handicap.

A beaten favourite on her handicap debut at Fairyhouse in June the daughter of Sea The Stars disappointed on her next outing at Roscommon.

Dropped in trip to a mile and two this evening and fitted with cheekpieces for the first time she was settled towards rear.

She made progress into seventh three furlongs out and was pushed along from the two furlong pole.

She went third a furlong out and got to the front with under 100 yards to race before going on to score by a length under Gary Halpin. Settle For Red (8/1) had to settle for second under Tom Madden for David Marnane while Dew Line (25/1) was a further two and a half lengths back in third under Robbie Dolan for Michael Mulvany. Mainicin and Flowing Air were sent off the 7/2 joint-favourites. The former finished a disappointing sixth having been backed from 11/2 while the latter also disappointed in seventh.

Oxx, who was recording his fifth winner in the space of a fortnight, said afterwards: "She ran too freely in Roscommon last time with blinkers on. She didn't run too badly but obviously couldn't win the way she ran.

"We took the blinkers off, put cheek-pieces on and dropped her back in trip. She settled well and came home well.

"Gary gave her a nicely judged ride and he won the race last year for me. It's no disadvantage to him having no whips as he gets behind them well.

"I'm delighted to win with her, after a few disappointments, and we'll keep going and see if we can win another one. She's a nice big strong filly."

The winner is owned by Tsui family (Sunderland Holding Inc) and he she is a half-sister to some smart types including the Kevin Prendergast trained Majenta.

STEWARDS REPORT

R.D. Dolan, rider of Dew Line trained by Michael Mulvany, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung badly in running.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson