JESSICA Harrington and Shane Foley combined to land a treble at sunny Cork highlighted by the success of seasonal debutant and bottom weight Kings Time who landed the first prize of €59,000 in the seven-furlong premier handicap.

Held up towards rear, the Exceed And Excel gelding picked up well for Shane Foley to account for Rahmi by a length and a half.

Jessica Harrington, who trains the chesnut for breeders Newtown Anner Stud, said of her 20/1 winner: “He is a four-year-old and is a very big horse who has now matured into his frame.

“We couldn’t run him until now because he has to have quick ground and we put him in this big handicap hoping the ground would dry out in time. We might think about going to Ascot for one of the handicaps.”

First-season sire Far Above registered a first winner as the Marnane family’s homebred Rock N Roll Rocket (16/1) made a successful debut for Harrington in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden.

The winner quickened well for Foley inside the final furlong to score by a short-head from Powerful Nation in a blanket finish.

Harrington commented: “He was bred by Con which is great and he’ll now be nominated to head off to the Windsor Castle or Norfolk at Royal Ascot. He absolutely loves that ground and has to have it quick.”

Harrington and Foley struck for a third time as well-backed Kinesiology (11/4) landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden on seasonal reappearance, finishing well to defeat Ballydoyle’s 88-rated race-fit Psalm by half a length.

Harrington reported: “It has been a great day’s work and I’m delighted with him. We have been waiting all spring for the good ground and he’ll go up in trip now. He wants a mile and four furlongs and might even end up going a mile and six.”

Blossom looks pretty nice

THE 5/2 favourite Cherry Blossom, owned by the Coolmore partners, capitalised on a drop in class to land the Goffs Irish EBF Polonia Stakes for Aidan O’Brien and Wayne Lordan.

A smart juvenile with good form in pattern company, the daughter of No Nay Never raced in the front rank throughout to beat She’s Quality by a length and a half.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “She is a very quick filly, wants quick ground and five furlongs.

“It is great to get the listed win and with the sprint programme in Ireland being tricky, she might have to travel for Group 3s for fillies.”

A seven-time winner on synthetic surfaces, May Night (10/1) recorded a first win on turf when making all in the apprentice handicap.

Keithen Kennedy’s mount, trained for the Longevity Racing Club by Denis Hogan, got his own way out in front and came clear in the straight to readily beat Mr King by three and a half lengths.

Syndicate representative and ex-jockey Tom Foley remarked: “I was initially with Tom Foley (late trainer) and then Willie Mullins where Ruby Walsh advised me to go to the States to learn to strengthen up, but I ended up staying 25 years!

“I had a good career in the States, was lucky to ride five Grade 1 winners and I’m home a few months now and getting this thing going.

“I remember Denis from pony racing many years ago and I’m delighted we got in with him. The syndicate are coming for Galway and hopefully we have a Galway horse with this one.”

Weld’s Gem

Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes struck in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 3yo Spring Series Median Auction Fillies Maiden with 7/2 chance Harbour Gem.

Stepping up to 10 furlongs for the first time, the daughter of Zoffany improved from rear to challenge in the straight and gained a narrow advantage over Declaree inside the final furlong to score by a neck.

Hayes said of the David Granville-owned winner: “We agreed we’d come here for the nicer ground, a nice track and to ride her cold.

“She did what we thought she’d do and hopefully that’ll do her confidence the world of good.”

GRAND City Hall (11/2) landed the six-furlong maiden for Jarlath Fahey and owners Park Hill Racing. The 80-rated gelding stalked the pace under Ronan Whelan before leading a furlong out and kept on to score by a length and a quarter from market leader Emerald Banner.

“It was his first run back, he was fairly straight and had three runs last year so knows his job,” said Fahey. “We were glad the ground dried out as he needs top of the ground and his dam was the same.

“He is bred by my wife Suzanne and is by a local stallion, The Irish Rover in Sweep Lane Stud, who has a good strike-rate. He is a son of No Nay Never so was the cheap way of getting that bloodline!”

Fahey and Whelan rounded off the evening in style when 16/1 chance Granite Bay landed the three-year-old handicap. The gelded son of Time Test came from off the pace to duel with Sportingsilvermine, just outpointing that one by half a length. Fahey said of Mrs Sarah Collins’ winner: “It was a good day’s work and my first double. In the last few years since Jennies Jewel won at Royal Ascot I’ve concentrated on the flat and have 10 in training. That number keeps us busy and today was great.”