CORK’S Group 3 featured Munster Oaks Stakes on Wednesday went to the Paddy Twomey-trained Rosscarbery who completed a four-timer this year, under jockey Billy Lee.

The Robert Moran-owned daughter of Sea The Stars gained a maiden win at Dundalk in April, won two handicaps in May and here fought for a neck win over Yaxeni.

Twomey reported: “She’s tough, and looks to have improved again from Roscommon. She’s been great all spring, she’s done everything we’ve asked of her.

“I was hopeful she’d run a big race tonight as, up in trip, with the way she’s bred – a stout German pedigree and by Sea The Stars – I thought it would play to her strengths.

“She’s the master of her own destiny now and I think a right-handed track is probably preferable. She’s progressing all the time, and our hand is forced — we can only run her in one type of race now. Robert bought her as a yearling and I’m sure that getting blacktype was the aim, and it’s great to achieve it.”

The success moved jockey Lee to the head of the jockeys’ championship on 35 wins, as he had earlier partnered impressive newcomer Funchal (8/1) to win the Mallow Maiden for trainer Willie McCreery.

The daughter of Bungle Inthejungle made good progress in the closing stages and quickened for a length-and-a-quarter success over De Valera.

McCreery said: “Patrick Burns bred her and had the two half-sisters with me, Devonshire who won a Group 2 and Hurryupharriet who won a listed race, and he will hold on to this one for breeding.

Delighted

“I was delighted to get her although he threatened that if she wasn’t going to win a maiden not to run, so the pressure if off! I’m delighted for him as he is a patient man and I told him to wait until she got good ground and we’d be laughing.

“She’ll get blacktype because she made up a lot of ground from the back and was rapid in the last furlong. We’ve nothing in mind although if today’s listed race was in a few weeks’ time, I’d run!”

THE other maiden on the card was the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden which went to the Donnacha O’Brien-trained, Annmarie O’Brien-owned and -bred Badb (7/2), who won easily under Gavin Ryan.

Trainer O’Brien said: “She had been working like a good filly all along and I was iffy about running her on soft ground here the last day, but she ran a good race and seemed to improve for a bit of nice ground today.

“She will stay at that (six furlongs) trip. She is in the Albany, but it might come too soon, and is more likely to go for the Airlie Stud Stakes on Derby weekend.”

Hell dictates

Hell Bent won the day’s Cork Derby, a handicap worth €45,000, as the Jessica Harrington-trained gelding benefitted from first-time blinkers to win under jockey Shane Foley.

Well beaten in two starts last month, the son of Mastercraftsman made all and won by two lengths from Safecracker for Mill House LLC.

Harrington’s daughter Kate Harrington explained: “He didn’t get the clearest of runs up the home straight at the Curragh the last day and we rode him to stay the trip today.

“The horses were a little quiet (when he previously ran in May) and he loves when he can get out and get that nice lead. Shane says he could step up again, stays all day and loves being out in front dictating.

“He is a lovely big horse and he is in the July Sale and, while we have to talk to connections to see if he goes, he could be a beautiful dual-purpose horse and is only starting to fill his frame.”

THE Listed Midsummer Sprint Stakes provided trainer Ger Lyons with an ideal one-two result with his Geocentric (10/11 favourite) beating Pirate Jenny (4/1) by a short head.

The winner carries the colours of SBA Racing Limited and afterwards Shane Lyons, representing his brother, reported: “Geocentric is going to go for the Sapphire Stakes. She does things hard but, because she’s going to stay in training next year, it’s going to be exciting. When she gets stronger, matures and learns to do things easily, we’ll have an exciting filly next year.

“The second filly (Pirate Jenny) was hunting for blacktype, and she’s got it. She’s going to be a much better filly over six furlongs.”

Sarah Lynam defeated her fellow trainer and father Eddie Lynam in the Sign Up To Our Newsletter Handicap, as her Screen Siren (11/2) beat his Collective Power, to win under jockey Mikey Sheehy.

Lynam junior later quipped: “It was close and there’s no harm in a bit of competition, but Dad is probably giving out because I beat him!

“I was hoping for a bit more ease but she was good there and really enjoys this place. If I could find another race here it would be great. I think it is a super sprint track and I wish they would use it a bit more often.”

Owner/trainer Craig O’Neill had a breakthrough first win in the concluding Hot House Flowers Play July 8th Handicap as Sondheim gained a short-head success under the rookie handler’s partner, jockey Neve Bennett. The 28/1 shot raced with the pace, led narrowly inside the final furlong before holding off No Patience at the line for a maiden success.

O’Neill said: “I’m from Kildare and am based on the Curragh and have my licence two years.

“He is the only horse I have. I work full-time in (trainer) John O’Donoghue’s and do Sondheim in the mornings before I go to work and in the evenings afterwards. I was with Bill Farrell and was in England with Richard Spencer so I’ve been around a bit.”