COLIN Keane narrowed the gap to five (77-72) behind Dylan Browne McMonagle in the flat jockeys’ championship when partnering a treble at the combined odds of just over 30/1 on this all juvenile eight-race card.
The six-time Irish champion teamed up with Michael O’Callaghan to land the opening two races of the afternoon with Luna Mia and Roaring Fire.
The Eleanora Kennedy-owned Luna Mia got off the mark at the sixth attempt in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden with the well-supported 9/4 favourite prominent throughout on the stands’ side before keeping on well in the closing stages to beat Tornado Kiss by half a length.
“She’s been threatening to do that all year, and we didn’t think it would take that long to win her maiden. Soft ground is key to her and Colin thought she idled a bit,” said O’Callaghan. “She was fourth in a Group 2, so now it’s time to try and get a bit of blacktype.”
Roaring Fire led about a furlong out in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden and the 7/4 favourite, available at 7/2 in the morning, got well on top inside the final 100 yards to beat Savile Row by three and a quarter lengths.
“He’s a horse that came from the breeze ups, but he didn’t breeze well. Mick Fitzpatrick was selling him and told me he had sore shins but said he was a nice horse, and I took him at his word,” said O’Callaghan.
“He’s been a bit of a sleeper at home. He went well enough in a barrier trial and Colin thought he stepped forward a lot from it. The penny just dropped in the last furlong today and he handles that ground, so he’ll probably run again this year.”
Madness
Keane brought up his treble aboard Madbadanddangerous, trained by Noel Meade for Jamie Hunt, in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden with the 5/2 favourite wearing down Duke Of Cumberland close home to score by a head.
“He had a lovely run the first day when he was slow away. Mentally, he’s still not fully there yet, but he’s a horse with plenty of size and scope and I thought he won snug enough,” said Keane.
“Noel is brilliant at buying those relatively cheap horses and turning them into maiden winners. He probably will get a mile in time, but he’s so big he’s maybe a fraction weak at the back and I’d imagine there will be no rush for the rest of the year.”
JOHNNY Murtagh kept up the good work following three winners at the Irish Champions Festival as Bay Of Supremacy, owned in partnership by the Kildare and Kilmichael Racing Syndicates, defied top weight in the Aloga Equestrian Nursery.
The 11/2 shot responded well under pressure for Ben Coen to beat Final Melody by three-quarters of a length and Murtagh commented: “The blinkers are a big help.
“He worked in them the other day and Ben said he gets through the ground really well. There is a five-furlong race next week in Down Royal and we’ll keep him busy while the ground is soft.”
Coen completed a near 35/1 double half an hour later when Iamimmaculate, trained locally by Daniel McLoughlin for Ringfort Stud Limited, landed a gamble in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Claiming Maiden.
Available at 33/1 overnight and supported on track from 8/1 into 9/2, the son of Coulsty was switched left to challenge inside the final furlong and finished strongly to beat Ipanema Beach by a length and a quarter.
“He was green the first day over six and stepped up to a mile today. He’s still quite raw, but when we met the rising ground, he pulled it out,” said Coen.
The first two home were both claimed with Iamimmaculate joining Ger O’Leary for €25,000, while James McAuley got Ipanema Beach for €20,000.
CONTROLLED, a 13th winner of the season for apprentice Jack Cleary, initiated a double on the card for Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore partners in the Goffs Two Million Series Maiden.
The 100/30 shot showed the benefit of his debut at the Curragh last month, when prominent throughout and asserting in the final 100 yards to beat Aegina by three lengths.
“We put the blinkers on him at home just to help him come forward a bit quicker and, in fairness, they have worked. Jack said he’s not stuck to five and could go seven, so we could have a look at the Star Appeal or the Legacy at Dundalk in the first week of October,” said stable representative Chris Armstrong.
Late lunge
Colin Keane was denied a four-timer as Port Ferdinand (9/4) made a successful debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, getting up in the final strides under Ronan Whelan to pip Bamako Beach by a neck.
“In fairness, he was drawn high and jumped a bit slow and Ronan has given him every chance to coast into it and he’s ground it out well,” said Armstrong.
“He has a lovely attitude and will probably go to the Eyrefield at Leopardstown in a month’s time. The step up in trip will help him and I think he’ll be one for middle distance races next year.”
More to come
O’Brien’s son Joseph was also on the mark with Synners Kid, carrying the colours of the trainer’s sister Ana, in the Gain The Advantage Series Nursery.
The 17/2 chance, as big as 14/1 overnight, was patiently ridden to lead in the final 150 yards and kept on gamely to beat Ella’s Gold by a length and a half.
“They went a nice gallop; the ground was plenty soft enough for him and he took a bit of time to get going. I feel like there is plenty more to come from this fella and he should get further than a mile in time,” said winning rider Wayne Hassett.