THE unstoppable Colin Keane notched up the fastest century for a jockey in Irish racing history as Barretta, fittingly trained by the jockey’s longtime ally Ger Lyons, made a winning debut in the mile maiden.
This was the fourth time in his career that Keane has reached the 100-winner mark in a season so this is by no means unprecedented territory. What is extraordinary though is the speed with which he has amassed his haul for the season. In two of the three occasions that he has hit 100 winners he did so on his last ride of the season while in 2019 he notched up 103 victories for the campaign.
Thus to reach a century of winners before the end of August is quite extraordinary and it puts him in a position to better Joseph O’Brien’s unprecedented 126-winner haul from 2013.
Keane’s century was achieved aboard a nice type in the three-year-old Barretta (5/2) who was making his racecourse debut. This son of Australia picked up really nicely to take charge of this race with over a furlong to run and he recorded a commanding five-and-a-half-length success over the barrier trial winner Moracana. The winner is owned by David Spratt, Lynne Lyons and Sean Jones.
As he reflected on his seasonal tally Keane said: “It’s brilliant to reach 100 winners again and to get it this early is unbelievable. I’m very fortunate to ride for a lot of good people and I wouldn’t be here only for the boss.
“There’s still two months of the season to go so long may it continue”.
Of Barretta, himself the rider added: “He’s a lovely, big horse and had been pleasing us at home. He picked up really well when we met the rising ground and he’s not a bad type of horse. He might be even better going a bit further.”
Keane went on to complete a double on Tom McCourt’s Dollar Value (9/2) in the 45-65 rated mile-and-three-quarter handicap for older horses. The capable dual purpose performer and Sharjah were afforded considerable leeway by the rest of the field with the result that the chasing pack could never land a telling blow.
The Peter Jordan-owned gelding finished a length and quarter ahead of Extensio with Sharjah taking third. The six-year-old was winning his sixth race since joining McCourt two and a half years ago.
Shane Foley, Keane’s closest rival in the jockeys’ title, was also among the winners after Jessica Harrington’s Benevolent (13/2) put her best foot forward in the nursery over an extended five furlongs. The RIFA Mustang-owned daughter of Oasis Dream, who was fifth in a Sligo nursery last time, came with a strong last furlong charge to defeat Heart To Heart by three parts of a length.
THE card couldn’t have gotten off to a more engaging start as the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden served up a tremendous four-way finish where a quarter of a length covered the first four.
Ultimately victory went to the Dermot Weld-trained and owned Eriskay who was getting off the mark at the third attempt after showing plenty of promise on her first two outings. Oisin Orr produced the daughter of the freshman sire Profitable with a well-timed effort on the outer which saw the 6/1 shot land in front on the line.
She got home by a short-head from the tenacious evens favourite Sablonne while the next two placings were filled by the barrier trial winners Brostaigh and Siesta Beach. This filly is the first produce out of an own-sister to the formerly high class Weld inmate Imaging.
“We’ll have a crack at a listed or group race next,” commented Weld. “She just got up there and needs to go seven furlongs. She showed the speed to win over five and a half furlongs today but ideally seven would be her trip.”
It has already been a strong autumn for Michael O’Callaghan’s juvenile string and the trainer notched up another two-year-old success when Up Above (5/1) came good in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden over five furlongs.
This colt, who was third to Beauty Inspire in a Derby Weekend maiden on his penultimate start, stuck close to the pace for Leigh Roche before leading with over a furlong to run and he sustained his effort to defeat the 33/1 shot Takana by a length and a half.
“He’s always shown us plenty of ability and we’ve always thought he was well capable of winning a maiden and stepping up to be a stakes horse. He’s a smart horse,” stated Roche.
Display
Another useful two-year-old display came from Aidan O’Brien’s HMS Endeavour in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over an extended five furlongs. This son of War Front and the outstanding American turf filly Lady Eli ran a respectable third on his debut at Naas in July and seemed to progress nicely.
Seamie Heffernan’s mount found himself in front a long way from home and, as a result of that, he was probably value for more than the winning margin of half a length over the newcomer Pirate Jenny. The 3/1 co-favourite will be of interest when he steps up in class.
“He’s got a lot of boot and hopefully he’ll keep progressing. He gave me a lovely feel and he’s not short of ability,” remarked Heffernan.
HE may have taken a little time to find his feet but Joseph O’Brien’s Celestial Horizon (4/1) signalled that he will be a three-year-old to follow after bolting up in the 45-65 rated handicap.
This Annemarie O’Brien-owned gelding did run well against his elders at Leopardstown previously and, back against his own age group, he was operating on a different level to these opponents. Declan McDonogh’s mount prevailed by an impressive four and a quarter lengths after striking for home inside the last quarter of a mile.
Gavin Cromwell maintained his good run of form as a resurgent Li Mu Bai (9/1) took the Treo Eilo Retraining Racehorses Handicap over a mile.
This three-year-old was well held when exiting late on in a juvenile hurdle at Ballinrobe last month but he did win a Fairyhouse handicap earlier in the summer and was restored to that form. When Gary Carroll and the Chateauneuf Du Pape Syndicate-owned three-year-old got room to challenge they finished out well to defeat Monzoon by half a length.