Report from Cork: Kieren Fallon showed no ill effects from a sore neck that kept him out of action on Sunday as the former champion jockey landed a 13 to 1 treble at Cork yesterday afternoon.
The in-form rider returned to the track with a vengeance as he guided Luas Line and Mona Lisa to back-to-back Listed wins before registering his hat-trick with Aidan O'Brien's newcomer Kitty Hawk.
The David Wachman-trained Luas Line was not disgraced in the American Oaks last time out, and was the class act in the Platinum Stakes as Fallon breezed to a facile success aboard the Danehill filly. Sent off the 4 to 5 favourite, the three-year-old stalked early pacesetters Sanserif and Zarad before making her move on the rail as they turned for home.
Despite having little room to manoeuvre, Fallon squeezed past Zarad with over one furlong out and quickened nicely to score by two and a half lengths from the fast-finishing Fairy Of The Night (14-1). Early leader Sanserif (11-2) was found wanting when it mattered and had to be content with third place.
Wachman said: "Hopefully if she's okay she'll go to Gowran Park in three weeks' time for a Listed race over nine and a half furlongs (Denny Cordell Lavarack Memorial Stakes). She likes fast ground and will travel back to America again. The last time she was there she ran into a really good filly (Cesario) when fourth in the American Oaks.
"There are three or four possible races for her over there in September and October."
Fallon was back in the winner's enclosure 30 minutes later when Mona Lisa (9-4) narrowly outpointed Kastoria in a thrilling finish to the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Give Thanks Fillies Stakes.
The O'Brien stable had been concerned about Mona Lisa's condition and an announcement was made over the racecourse public address system beforehand that the trainer felt she was showing signs of coming into season.
Fallon was always up with the pace on the three-year-old, although he still had it to do once Kastoria took a definite advantage on the run-in. But the rider came from off the rail to produce the Giant's Causeway filly and land the Listed contest by a short-head from Kastoria (4-1).
Kevin Prendergast's Best Side stayed on well to take third place in the 12-furlong contest, but Jim Bolger's Pictavia flattened out alarmingly in the closing stages and finished a distance behind the principals. Fallon said: "They don't come much tougher than her, she's got a great attitude and she seems to be getting better and better. She answered every call."
Kitty Hawk provided O'Brien with a double, and Fallon with his treble, as the daughter of Danehill Dancer (6-4) made a winning debut in the Coolmore Stud Spartacus EBF Maiden over six furlongs. Ladbrokes were impressed and gave her a 33 to 1 quote for next season's 1,000 Guineas.
Easiest winner of the day was Baltimore Hill, who was backed from 10 to 1 into 4 to 1 for the Glantane INH Flat Race and landed the spoils for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Derek O'Connor.
