The John Feane trained Signor Ferrari got off the mark at the 12th attempt when staying on well to win the Blackwater Apprentice Handicap at Cork.

The three-year-old, who had finished runner-up over ten furlongs at Dundalk in February, seemed to appreciate dropping back in trip here under Hugh Horgan.

Prominent from stalls, the eventual winner sat fifth in the early stages as Still Rolling made the running in the centre of the track.

As the latter gave way over 2f out, Grand Citadel came through to lead briefly on the far side of the track. However, with that horse hanging right and giving jockey Amy Jo Hayes no help, she was there on sufferance.

Signor Ferrari was pushed along to challenge over a furlong out, coming through to lead inside the final furlong before going on to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths from The Bear Trap

Winning jockey Hugh Horgan said: "I felt he ran well the last time when he finished sixth and was unlucky in-running and didn't have a hard race. I thought he'd have a chance today.

"I think he is versatile ground-wise as he has a big action but skips along on that ground and to be fair to him he put his head down where it mattered. Hopefully he will gain confidence from that, that is a lot to do with them as once they have confidence, the become much better.

"A strongly run seven (furlongs) is ideal but he will stay a mile."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.