Two Stars another for in-form Stack Fozzy Stack continued his strong start to the 2023 Flat season, with Two Stars providing him with his sixth winner of the campaign in the opening Cork Maiden. A solid third on debut just under a month ago when sent off a joint-favourite, the Starspangledbanner gelding drifted from 5s today to a starting price of 9/1. Always towards the head of affairs under Mark Enright, he had a good tussle with Roaming Star from over a furlong out, getting on top in the closing stages before going on to prevail by a length-and-a-quarter. The runner-up was sent off a well-backed 9/2 chance (11s early), while First Gentleman and Desert Haven, returned the 9/4 joint-favourites, were a neck and a short head away in third and fourth respectively. "He did it well and is still green," Stack commented in the aftermath. "He was a bit unlucky here the last day when he fell out of the gates and is a fast horse. "He will go on better ground but won't get a yard beyond six furlongs and might end up being better over five. He will develop into a nice sprinter in time. "We'll look for a handicap mark now and with sprinters they need practice." The winner is a brother to King Of Stars, a five-time winner in the UK for Mick Appleby. STEWARDS REPORTS * N.M. Crosse, rider of Racing Royalty (GB), trained by Gillian Scott, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount jumped right coming out of the stalls. * J.A. Powell, rider of Grigal, trained by Richard Brabazon, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount received a bump leaving the stalls. * D.P. McDonogh, rider of Capital Guarantee, trained by Kieran P. Cotter, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung badly right throughout. * M.A. Enright, rider of Two Stars, trained by J.A.Stack, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung badly left throughout. Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
