Roxette provides nice family success for the Whelans There was a nice success for the Whelan family in the CorkRacecourse.ie Handicap (division one) when top-weight Roxette did the business under jockey Ronan. In the silks of his mother Kathleen, Whelan got the 18/1 shot home by two and a quarter lengths from Musalsal after bossing things from the front. "It was lovely to win with her and I only have her a while. Ronan's dad Tom had her in pre-training and did a lot of the work with her so I didn't have an awful lot to do only get her to the races,” said winning trainer Michael Halford. "She is a grand filly and seven (furlongs) here suited her and she had a bit of room where she was drawn (5). It was a good performance to carry that weight in her first handicap. "You'd be entitled to think she will improve through the year and she is a winner now. She is lovely and straightforward to train at home and if she went up in grade, six furlongs could suit as she has plenty of pace." The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Muntahez, trained by Aidan Anthony Howard, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal. (TW & EM)
