ORIENTAL KING CAN RECORD BACK TO BACK WINS IN THE PEGASUS CUP

Barry Drake

All eyes turn to the second round of the €7,500 to the winner Pegasus Cup at Curraheen Park tonight.

The opening round produced some fantastic winning performances, and it's another outstanding event at the Cork track.

Oriental King was the star of the show in the opening round, clocking 28.26, and he will be expected to record back-to-back winning performances in the third and final heat. In the ownership of the Organised Chaos Syndicate, the selection has some fancy runs in the book, but that was a career-best run last week. The lightly raced selection is still open to plenty of improvement, and if producing another quick start out wide, he will be hard to beat.

Tetra Destiny is next best for the Benalmadena Syndicate. The classy performer returned to winning ways last week, winning in 28.61, and he has plenty of all round speed. Another bold showing is expected in this, and he should be in the mix throughout.

Killough Sniper has the early speed to make all the running in the opening heat for Derek Loughnane. That was a massive run in defeat last week, showing lovely early pace before getting caught late on by the strong-running Da Tapper Flynn. He impressed on the clock, and with another flying start, he is fancied to lead all the way. The sole seeded runner has a fantastic draw out wide.

Knockera Jet displayed massive speed and power to overcome trouble at the opening corner and win in 28.93 last week. There's no doubt he is capable of going much quicker, and Patrick O'Leary's runner has claims from the middle of the track. Hit or miss at the traps, if he gets it right, he is as quick as anything in the line-up.

Of the others, Super Syd has his draw along the rails, and he's not without a chance for the kennel of David Harrington. Mixed form in recent weeks, the rails draw is expected to bring the best out of him, and he's one to watch in this.

The second heat is a tricky puzzle. Jerrivee De Mag, trained by Paul Hennessy for owners Brendan Cocoman and Ian Cunningham, has obvious claims. That was a fine display in defeat last week, getting within a couple of lengths of Oriental King, in 28.26. A reproduction of that would see him go very close in this. Ballycowen Moon has a great draw on the outside of the track for Dean Harpur, and the strong running tracker should go very well. He will be finishing well late on.

In the fourth, in the opening round of the A3 575, Beanis Rodge should go well for the kennel of Adrian Mannix. The step back up in distance is a massive plus, and he can return to winning ways in this. Below his best in recent runs, he's ideally suited to this trip, and if putting his best foot forward, he should prove too strong.

In the second heat, Knockacrump Bell has a lovely draw along the rails, and Brendan Kearney's runner should be in the mix throughout. This is a nice drop in class for the selection, and she should make the most of it. In superb form in recent times, another big display is likely in this. Both Da Little Jet and Millridge Nando have plenty of pace and power, and they are the obvious dangers in this.