McMonagle magic makes it plain sailing for Statement in Navigation Stakes

Tuesday: Cork

After plundering most of the big prizes at Listowel last week, Joseph O'Brien continued his domination of the Munster racing scene when Dylan Browne McMonagle gave Statement a peach of a ride from the front to land the Listed Navigation Stakes.

The ex-Kevin Ryan-trained filly was having just her second run for O'Brien and was bounced out in front by McMonagle, who judged the fractions in front to absolute perfection.

When he kicked on again with less than a quarter-mile to go, his mount responded and they had just enough to hold off Monaasib by a neck. The victory further advertised the talents of a young rider who had partnered his first Group 1 winner on Al Riffa in the National Stakes 16 days previously.

"He got off her the last day after dropping her in at Leopardstown and said that she probably wants a mile and a quarter, so over the mile we decided to make plenty of use of her," assistant trainer Brendan Powell said.

"He stacked them up and started stretching them from three out. He thought she won nicely even though the other one was catching up and he thinks she'll go further. She's a a big, heavy-topped filly and I think there's more improvement in her. She's going the right way."

McMonagle completed a double when the Pat Martin-trained mare Indiana Grey gained her fifth career success in the first division of the concluding mile handicap.

"He's a special talent," said Martin of the jockey.

Double for Murphy

Kilkenny trainer Pat Murphy is adept at getting the best out of the ammunition he has and he had a double on the day.

The lightly raced Craft Irish gained her third success and second of the current season when grinding out a game victory under Jake Coen in the 6f fillies' handicap, getting the better of favourite Princess Sela by half a length.

Pat Murphy: enjoyed a double on the dayCredit: Patrick McCann

"She's just back from a break. She was just a lot more settled today and was a different filly down at the start. I became very confident when I saw she was so quiet!" Murphy said.

"If she minds herself, maybe she can win another one. We'll try her on the turf again and then we'll see about Dundalk."

Lucky Queen completed the double in the second division of the closing handicap under Luke McAteer. The winner is owned by Mudassar Rafiq, who works for Jim Bolger.

Cristiano off the mark

Brazilian native Cristiano Martins rode his first Irish winner on just his second ride in the country when getting the Michael Browne-trained The Cola Brasil up on the line to land the first of the 6f handicaps.

Martins rode 425 winners in his home country, principally around Sao Paulo, Rio De Janeiro and Curitiba, and has been working with the trainer's brother Willie for the past 11 years. Some of the gloss was taken off the victory when he picked up a one-day ban for excessive use of the whip.

Results and analysis

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday