Surpass and Shine can add sparkle at Cork
Surpass And Shine (right) on the way to finishing behind Perfect Judgement in the Aer Lingus College Football Handicap at Leopardstown last month. Picture: Healy Racing
Cork serves up a matinee meeting of Flat racing and Surpass And Shine can shed his maiden status by taking the fourth race, the first division of the Mallow Handicap, for Pat Flynn and Billy Lee.
Last time out, on his second run in a handicap, he was quite well backed to win what looked like a very competitive handicap at Leopardstown. Drawn high that day, he had to use up some energy to take up a handy position from an early stage. in front half a mile out, he went for home shortly after turning in and soon had his rivals in trouble. However, the early exertions took their toll close home as he was reeled in by Perfect Judgement, who was also well backed that day.
While it was disappointing that he was caught, he showed that he has ability beyond his handicap mark, and there is plenty of scope for further improvement form the three-year-old, particularly as he showed signs of greenness in the closing stages. With that run under his belt and being better drawn this time, he should be able to lie handy without having to expend too much energy. He can get home in front in what is an easier race than that which he ran in at Leopardstown.
In the second division of the same handicap, the Kieran Cotter-trained Mags can come out on top. Raced just once as a juvenile, the three-year-old filly was well beaten on her first start of this term, but certainly showed more when sixth of 14 in a Curragh maiden on her next outing.
Last time out, contesting her first handicap, she dropped to six furlongs and ran a super race to finish a close fifth behind Imperial Dream. Conceding experience to her rivals, she was unable to pick up well enough close home to get to the front, but she was noted staying on quite well and will appreciate the return to seven furlongs.
She has been put up one pound for that effort but there is plenty more to come from her and she can take this on her way up the grading ladder. Shaaden and Lucky Queen are others with decent each-way claims.
Comanche Brave has strong claims in the Coolmore Stud Gleneagles Irish EBF Maiden. Donnacha O’Brien’s colt made his debut last month at the Curragh and showed promise in a race won by the progressive Ides Of March. The winner followed up in a Group 3, earning him a rating of 108, while the runner-up, Monumental, also won next time out.
Likely to be much better for the outing, the half-sister to Irish 1000 Guineas winner Peaceful and listed race winner Easter will take beating in what is not the strongest of maidens.
3:45 Rebel Diamond
4:20 Comanche Brave
4:55 Heart Of Darkness
5:25 Surpass And Shine (nap)
5:55 Mags (nb)
6:25 Happiest
6:55 Old Sea
7:25 Bear Profit
3:45 Vanilla Baby
4:20 Winter Bonfire
4:55 Imperial Dream
5:25 Goldmoyne
5:55 Shaaden
6:25 Made U Blush
6:55 Rubies From Burma
7:25 Polemon
