By Claire Barry

ALL eyes were on Brendan Brackan in the Listed Platinum Stakes at Cork on Tuesday and the 4/9 favourite did not disappoint trainer Ger Lyons and jockey Colin Keane on his first start for Qatar Racing Limited.

At the head of affairs from the outset, the three-year-old brought his tally of wins to five, his first since last September when holding the late effort of Witches Brew by three and a half lengths.

Lyons was a happy man afterwards and reflected: “There’s a train of thought that he’s better going right-handed and with a tiny bit of juice in the ground. It’s just a thought but, taking nothing away from the winner if there had been that type of juice in the Ballycorus Stakes we might have won it.

“He’s going for the Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown next week all going well. He’s going to be pot-hunting for the crew and I know they made some real fancy entries this morning, races I would never have considered. The whole idea is to have fun with him and win some big prize money and he’s the right horse for that job.”

The trainer concluded: “He’s a good horse, a rock solid Group 3 horse and I just want to thank Sheikh Fahd for buying him back because I didn’t think I was finished with him. When he goes up a grade he’s going to need all the luck in the world.”

Dermot Weld sent out his first group success for the Aga Khan when Edelmira, the lesser-fancied 6/1 chance of the owner’s duo, took the Group 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Give Thanks Stakes, a race for which Tarana started favourite to collect in the same colours.

A runaway five and a quarter length winner of her maiden at Tipperary first time out in yielding to soft ground, the home-bred Peintre Celebre filly responded to pressure from Pat Smullen to get on top in the final 100 yards for a three and a quarter length success over Dark Crusader.

The three-year-old’s rider said on his return: “I was very impressed with her. The Aga Khan’s fillies seem to be best with an ease in the ground and I was adamant the last day (behind Venus De Milo at the Curragh) that she didn’t let herself down.

“She’s a smart filly and today she showed the good turn of foot she showed at Tipperary. I had to fight my corner turning in but hopefully there’s more improvement in her.”

Weld’s son Kris was equally pleased: “We were disappointed with her the last day but conditions were against her. The Prix de Royallieu, a Group 2 race for fillies and mares on the Saturday of Arc weekend could be a possibility. It’s only an assumption but she’s won her Group 3 so a Group 2 is worth trying and she’ll get an entry.”

Ballydoyle’s expensive breeze-up purchase General Marshall headed the betting for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden confined to two-year-olds but the American-bred colt was unable to cope with the relentless rain and had to make do with third spot behind the always prominent and far more experienced Blackbriar. The 16/1 shot from the Tommy Stack stable, drew away to score by four and three quarters of a length from I Will Excel.

Wayne Lordan’s mount carries the colours of David Slater from Newcastle and Stack’s son and assistant Fozzy pointed out: “She’s been knocking at the door and the cheek pieces and stepping her up in trip made the difference today. We’ll just try to get a bit of blacktype for her and there’s a listed race at the Curragh at the end of the month.”

There was further disappointment in store for favourite backers in the Family Day Out Maiden when the favourite Belts And Braces could finish only fourth behind David Marnane’s 7/4 winner Full Steam Ahead who won with plenty in hand by a three and a half-length margin under champion apprentice Connor King.

TALLY-HO STUD

Marnane trains the three-year-old Rock Of Gibraltar gelding, who was overcoming a three and a half month absence, for Tony O’Callaghan of Tally-Ho Stud renown and said: “It wouldn’t have been the strongest race but he’s a lovely horse and we’ve always held him in high regard. He’s had a lot of small niggling problems that held him up and he’d prefer better ground.

“We’ll see how the handicapper assesses him and make a plan from there.”

Trainer Jane Foley topped Surreal’s Galway victory with success for her husband Joe’s home-bred 8/1 chance Suburban Sky in the Ticket Sales On-line @corkracecourse.ie Apprentice Handicap.

The daughter of Dandy Man was well-handled by 18-year-old Ana O’Brien who was registering her 11th win when driving Suburban Sky out to account for market leader Apache Gold by three and a quarter lengths. Foley commented: “I was surprised she handled the ground and she’s shown she’s versatile. It’s just great to win.”

Not to be outdone, the apprentice’s older brother, champion jockey Joseph O’Brien got his name on the score sheet when the locally-trained Aussie Gent ran out a decisive five and a half length winner of the Bet Online With The Tote.com Handicap from Papaya. Market leader Grandma Dotty was never travelling, according to her jockey Chris Hayes. Aussie Gent is in the care of Eugene O’Sullivan who said: “He had a few runs in England for Stephen Hall and when his owner Hugh O’Driscoll moved from England to Ireland to live in Milford the horse came with him! Joseph likes him and today was the day. He’ll mix it between hurdles and the flat from now on.”

Curragh handler Michael Halford and his stable jockey Shane Foley combined to take the ITBA Working For Southern Regional Breeders Fillies Handicap with the 9/4 favourite Sea Coast who clinched the verdict for her Kildare owner Antoinette Kavanagh close home to record a half-length success over Antique Platinum.

The trainer was full of praise for his charge and stated: “She’s very genuine and got through the ground, even though she genuinely doesn’t like it. All she does is please you and she’s progressing. She has lots of size and scope and might take in a listed race before the end of the season.”