G3 Darley Munster Oaks

It has been a while since Jim Bolger had a real top-flight prospect and so it was welcome sight that greeted Cork's faithful on Sunday when his unbeaten filly Sparan Nua (Dawn Approach) took the G3 Darley Munster Oaks. After Newtown Anner Stud's recent acquisition had mastered her elders in the mile-and-a-half contest, her breeder and trainer was looking at next month's Curragh Classic. "She is still learning on the job and was green enough there today," Bolger said of the 11-4 favourite, who was stepping up after winning over...

Runner-up in this track's Listed Noblesse S. and in The Curragh's Listed Orby S. in her prior two starts this term, The Aga Khan's Sumiha (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) stepped up a notch on Friday evening to garner a breakthrough win in Cork's G3 Darley Munster Oaks. Anchored towards the back early by Chris Hayes, the Dermot Weld-trained relative of Sinndar (Ire) stayed on resolutely to collar Trevaunance (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) passing the two-furlong pole and register a 1 1/4-length success as the 11-8 favourite. "It was run at...