Royal Blue Star and Connor King fly down the outside at Cork© Photo Healy Racing
Connor King stole the show at Cork when bringing up his first ever treble on Royal Blue Star in the Listed Platinum Stakes over a mile.
It was also the biggest win of the young apprentice’s fledgling career at his local track.
A massive field of 16 went to post for this Listed contest. Fort Knox was the 3/1 favourite but it was market rival Snow Queen (5/1) who provided the major talking point.
She ‘slept in’ in the stalls to give her 15 rivals a start of at least 10 lengths. However after joining the back of the field she picked her way through and nearly got on the premises in coming home fifth on the inside.
The main action though was happening down the outside as Royal Blue Star and King stayed on very powerfully in the final furlong to swamp everyone else and take the 26,000 euro prize at odds of 20/1.
The pair came in a length ahead of a bunched finish for second in which 33/1 shot Akira came out best, a head in front of Beyond Thankful (20/1).
Fort Knox was a nose out of the placings under trainer/jockey Johnny Murtagh.
“She jumped a bit slowly and I gave her a chance early on. At the two pole I thought she would be placed but she flew home,” Connor King commented.
“It’s my first treble and my biggest win and it’s at my local track. In September I’m going back to school to do my leaving cert in Kanturk, Co Cork. I’m going to try and mix school and riding. I’m apprenticed to David Wachman.”
King had scored earlier on Kiss The Stars (16/1) and Almadaa (11/4). His treble paid 1,337/1.
Royal Blue Star is in-foal to four-time Group 1 winner Dream Ahead.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
