Johnny Murtagh has Royal Ascot aspirations with his Yolo Star following her win in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Cork today, scoring under jockey Pat Smullen.

The daughter of Society Rock had filled second place at the Curragh five days earlier and today edged an ‘on-the-nod’ head win over Damselfly

Afterwards Murtagh said “we always like to dream so we're hoping she could be a Queen Mary type filly. You need to be tough and hardy and Ascot could be the ideal spot for her.”

He added “it was a bit tight coming back five days after her run at the Curragh but there aren’t many fillies-only maidens for her. She was professional and Pat (Smullen) said she was very tough. She was coming to the end of her tether at the line but maybe was feeling the pinch after her recent run.

“She’s not big but is hardy and what she lacks in size, she makes up for in heart. It’s great to get another winner for the syndicate (Fitzwilliam Racing).”

By Tom Weekes