2:55 Cork
This Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap over six furlongs at Cork features a compact field of nine on yielding to soft ground. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched, with the top four separated by just eleven points, suggesting a competitive race where small margins will matter. Overall the numbers point to a tactical contest in which course experience, ground suitability and the ability to produce a late effort from a handy position could prove decisive.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape lacks an obvious leader, pointing to a steadily-run, tactical affair in which being handy should pay. With the majority of the field, including all four principals, tending to be held up or race in mid-division, the race is likely to develop into a test of timing from off the pace. The key question is whether any horse can quicken effectively off a steady gallop on this ground, or whether those with previous course form and proven stamina for the trip will hold the advantage in the closing stages.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Staysound Susie KTB Selection58/100
Staysound Susie is a fair performer who has won at this trip and scored once from six runs at Cork. She has been in and out of form this year with a recent profile of 53160 and remains unproven on yielding to soft ground. The trainer holds an 8 percent strike rate from 400 runs at the track while the jockey is 7 percent from 14 rides here. Usually held up, she produces her effort late and the draw in three should allow her to be positioned conveniently off what is set to be a steady pace. A prior course success adds to her claims in a race where being handy is expected to pay dividends.
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2My Cubby Bear50/100
My Cubby Bear is a modest performer who showed some ability when placed over this trip on his second start. He has not built on that in one subsequent run and remains with only three career outings. Trainer and jockey both operate at a solid level around Cork, with respective strike rates of 14 percent and 15 percent at the venue. Usually held up with limited evidence, the three-year-old will need to find improvement if he is to figure prominently in what looks a steadily-run affair. His lack of course form is a slight negative, though the yard's record at Cork offers some encouragement.
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3Baiana48/100
Baiana is a modest performer who has already shown her best at this trip with a win from three starts. She handles yielding to soft ground and looked improved when scoring at this track on her penultimate start. Trainer has a solid 12 percent strike rate here from a big sample while the jockey's 3 percent record from 176 rides is weaker. Typically settling in midfield, she should be well placed to launch her effort in a race that lacks an obvious leader. The step back to six furlongs after a recent win looks suitable given her record at the trip.
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4Flash Of Fire47/100
Flash Of Fire is a fair performer who has shown useful form at this track, finishing second on his only previous visit to Cork. He drops back to an untried 6f today having last run over a mile, which poses a fresh question. First-time headgear is now added while both trainer and jockey have modest strike rates at the venue. Usually held up, he will be looking to produce his effort late in what is set to be a tactical, steadily-run race. The drop in trip adds an element of uncertainty but the prior course placing keeps him in the mix.
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5Saint Agatha47/100
Saint Agatha is a modest performer who has shown mixed form across five runs, most recently finishing fifth of 11 at this track. She has been placed once at today's trip but lacks a win at any distance, and the small sample on this type of ground leaves her suitability open to question. Trainer and jockey both have established but unspectacular records here.
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6Forza Magico47/100
Forza Magico is a modest performer with three runs behind him and a recent placed effort at this trip. He steps up from 5f today having shown his best work over six furlongs already. Trainer and jockey both have modest strike rates at Cork while the small going sample leaves that side of things unknown.
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7By The Lake46/100
By The Lake is a fair performer who showed useful speed when second over this trip at Naas last time. He has a solid recent record and the jockey’s 14 percent strike rate at Cork from nearly 500 rides adds some confidence. Trip looks suitable but the yard’s record here is too small to judge and going suitability remains untested.
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8Motta Alta46/100
Motta Alta is a fair 3-year-old with a solid recent record of 6133 that includes a win and two placed efforts. Dropping back from a mile to an untried 6f poses a fresh question while the lightly-raced profile means the yielding-to-soft ground remains an unknown. The trainer holds a 10 percent strike rate from 888 runs at Cork, though the jockey's 4 percent from 56 rides is more modest.
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9Rosato43/100
Rosato is a limited sort who has been placed on both starts here without winning. He steps up from 5f to a trip he has won at before though his recent form is modest and he has failed to place on yielding to soft ground. Trainer is still seeking a first Cork winner from 12 attempts.
KTB verdict
Staysound Susie is the KTB Selection. A fair performer with a prior win at this track and at the trip, she brings course experience that could be valuable in a steadily-run, tactical race where being handy pays. Her ability to produce a late effort from a good draw aligns well with the expected shape. The main dangers are Baiana, who has already shown her best at this trip and handles the ground, and Flash Of Fire, who has useful course form and now tries first-time headgear. My Cubby Bear and the remainder of the field add further depth to what looks a closely contested handicap.
KTB Selection Staysound Susie
This is the narrative read of the 2:55 Cork. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Cork racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Cork results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has previous winning form at Cork over this distance?
Staysound Susie has won here from six runs at Cork and has won at this trip.
How does the expected pace shape influence the race?
The race lacks a leader and is likely to be a steadily-run, tactical affair where being handy pays.
Which runners are unproven on yielding to soft ground?
Staysound Susie, My Cubby Bear, Flash Of Fire, Saint Agatha, Forza Magico, By The Lake and Motta Alta are all unproven on yielding to soft.
Who has the strongest trainer strike rate at Cork among the principals?
Joseph Patrick O'Brien has a 12 percent strike rate at Cork from 507 runs.
Which horse is trying first-time headgear?
Flash Of Fire is fitted with first-time headgear.
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