Manchester United scored again at Naas on Saturday when Aidan O'Brien's odds-on chance Red Coral carried the colours of their newly formed racing club to a comprehensive victory on her racecourse debut in the Mujadil EBF Maiden.
Partnered by Mick Kinane, the daughter of Fairy King, who is leased to the Manchester United Racing Club by breeder Tim Hyde, swept to the front in the testing ground at the furlong pole to come home a length-and-a-half clear of 25-1 shot, Lady Of Kildare.
'She's a very good worker at home and she wants an ease in the ground,' said Aidan O'Brien. 'If there's an ease in the ground we'll take a look at Royal Ascot, maybe the Queen Mary.'
Henry Ponsenby, racing manager to the club which has over 700 members, including 45 from Ireland, said, 'That was our first runner and our first winner. We have five horses in training with trainers Aidan O'Brien, Barry Hills, Mick Channon, Mick Easterby and Ed Dunlop and we're looking for more members.'
Dermot Weld also has the Royal meeting in mind for Hamdan Al Maktoum's Murawwi after the three-year-old colt scored with the minimum of fuss under Pat Smullen in the seven furlong Naas Race.
'He's done well from two to three and he's a nice horse. He didn't get the trip at Navan last time (6l runner-up to Korasoun 1m2f) but provided there's an ease in the ground the logical race for him may be the Jersey Stakes,' said the Rosewell House trainer.
Later in the day, champion Mick Kinane recorded his second winner of the afternoon when he teamed up with Bamford Castle, off the track for nearly 5 months, to defy top-weight of ten stone in the 1m6f handicap.
'He opened an old wound on his hind-leg jumping a hurdle last January and that's why he was out for some time. I'm not keen on hurdles with him yet, hopefully another flat race,' commented veteran Goresbridge trainer Paddy Mullins.
Navan permit holder Edward Galvin, who has a yard of hunters and pointers, saddled his first winner on the track when Will Prattle, a winner between the flags last year, easily landed the bumper in the hands of Tony Martin.
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