COLIN Keane’s late-season link up with Aidan O’Brien yielded another vital winner for the jockey in his quest to regain his champion jockey crown as he struck aboard Sir Lucan in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Race over a mile.
This Camelot colt looked as though he would take plenty of beating on his fourth in last month’s Beresford Stakes but he was given quite a test by the 91-rated front-runner Flying Visit.
For much of the straight, it seemed as though Sir Lucan would land in front before the line, but it was only in the last few strides that he got the better of his tenacious rival to carry the day by half a length.
“We went a good gallop all the way and he was as close as he could be but he stayed at it very well and got the line well. He’s a brother to a very good horse (Sir Dragonet) and you’d imagine he will be a nice horse to look forward to next year,” commented Keane.
The jockey further added to his haul as Starlight Dream (9/4) continued an excellent run for trainer Matthew Smith with a brave effort from the front in the 10-furlong fillies’ maiden. After a succession of honourable placed efforts the 79-rated daughter of Epaulette, who is owned by Debbie Kelly, deservedly got her turn as she just lasted home from the oncoming Menagerie.
Genuine
“She deserved that after her last couple of runs and she’s a good, tough genuine filly and Colin felt that she was still a bit green so hopefully there’s more to come from her,” reported Smith.
Keane’s title rival Shane Foley also got among the winners courtesy of the John Murphy-trained Autumn Mist (15/2) in the second division of the 45-65 rated mile handicap.
This Mairead O’Keeffe-owned four-year-old showed promise on a couple of occasions in the past and put it all together here to lead in the last few strides for a neck triumph over Eye Of The Dragon.
The winner could be in action at Dundalk over the course of the winter.
SUCH was the manner of his victory at Limerick on Saturday that Dreal Deal was hit with a whopping 26lb hike in the ratings and off just a mandatory 6lb penalty he was an overwhelming 4/9 favourite for the second division of the 10-furlong handicap, and he won like it too.
The Ronan McNally-owned and trained gelding was cruising along in front for Mark Enright from early in the straight and the rider never had to get remotely animated for this fast-improving five-year-old to saunter home by three and a quarter lengths from Poster Child.
Indications afterwards were that this hugely improved gelding could be put away for the time being.
Apprentice Dylan Browne McMonagle made it 25 winners for the season on the very well-backed Prime Chief in the first division of the 45-65 rated 10-furlong handicap.
The Jarlath Fahey inmate was backed from as big as 8/1 into 9/4 favouritism and after taking charge early in the straight, he had plenty to spare in defeating Miss Louise by a length and a half. A winter campaign at Dundalk could be on his agenda.
Noble Music, who gave trainer Michael O’Meara his first training success at Roscommon during the summer, struck again for the trainer in the 10-furlong 50-75 rated handicap. Billy Lee was on board this daughter of Sea The Moon who was sent off a strongly supported 9/2 favourite and set out to make all.
Various opponents threatened in the straight but Noble Music produced a strong staying performance to defeat Dundory by four and a half lengths. The Emma Kennedy-owned winner will now head to the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale at the end of the month.
One to remember for Ben Kennedy
IT was an afternoon to cherish for apprentice Ben Kennedy who rode the first winner of his career aboard Swiss Army Officer in the first division of the 45-65 rated mile handicap.
The jockey, who was just touched off aboard this horse at Leopardstown in the summer, produced the 16-race maiden to strike the front a quarter of a mile out and Swiss Army Officer went to the line well to defeat the rallying Raffaello by a length and a half. In addition, the 14/1 chance was providing Kevin Coleman with his third winner of the season.
“Ben is with me full time and he’s from Dingle. He came to me wanting to ride over jumps but he has ended up riding on the flat and it’s a bonus for him as he is a big lad and he works very hard and rides well,” reported Coleman.
The turf season may be drawing a close but there might be time yet for Leabaland (14/1) to add to his tally after he dominated the 45-65 rated three-year-old mile handicap.
This Michael Halford inmate had run to a respectable level on his first three handicap outings but he took a significant step forward in first-time cheekpieces.
Ronan Whelan’s mount was in full control of this race some way from home and he reached the line two and three quarter lengths ahead of Waterville Lady. This son of Capella Sansevero is owned by Trevor Myles.