CHAMPION jockey Colin Keane bagged a quick double at Dundalk last Wednesday with victories on a couple of promising juveniles.

Connections are hoping King Of Scotia can mature into a stakes performer after Michael O’Callaghan’s charge opened his account in the Irish Stallions Farms EBF Maiden.

The Kessaar gelding went to post a 4/7 shot in the seven-furlong contest as he dropped back into maiden company having been seventh in the Group 3 Killavullan Stakes on his previous outing.

Keane gave his mount a confident ride, producing him to lead a furlong from home and going on to secure a two-and-three-quarter-length win over Sierra Blanca.

O’Callaghan said afterwards: “I’m a bit disappointed it took us this long to win with this lad. It was my own fault, probably, running him in the Killavullan.

“The ground went soft and we let him take his chance. He wants a sound surface like that.

“Colin was delighted with him today and thinks he could be a stakes horse as he matures. We kind of always thought that at home.

“He was a big, muscular, gross horse and it (gelding) really helped him. He has tightened up.”

Keane had initiated his brace on the Ciaran Murphy-trained Coolcalmncollected in the preceding Irishinjuredjockeys.com Nursery over six furlongs.

Stayed on

Dot Love’s Ardad gelding had opened his account over the course and distance late last month and stayed on to lead inside the final furlong and repeat the dose. The 16/5 shot held the late run of Lisieux to secure a three-quarter-length win.

Murphy said: “We felt he had improved and, speaking to Colin beforehand, we thought he needed to win that.

“He’s a horse that has been progressing all year. He has taken time and is a very big horse, but is a lovely horse for the future we think.”

The other juvenile race on the card was won by the Michael Halford-trained Dabirann, who also looks a youngster with upside.

Ronan Whelan produced the Aga Khan-owned colt to lead inside the final furlong in the mile contest and the son of Oasis Dream recorded a convincing two-length win over 66/1 shot Cherokee Run.

Halford said: “I’d say he is just getting better with racing. The extra furlong brought out the best in him.

“He has a great temperament and is a horse I’d say will get better with racing. He has a great mind and is tough out.”

JOHN McConnell bagged a double on the card but had to sweat on a stewards’ enquiry after the last to get confirmation of the brace.

Halcyon Spirit won on his first start for the yard in the concluding 10-furlong handicap but after hitting the front over a furlong out, veered left under Tom Kiely Marshall.

In doing so the 16/1 shot gave Newgirlintown a few bumps before asserting late on to record a length-and-a-half win.

It was no surprise that an enquiry was called, but the result stood.

“He did interfere badly with Ger (O’Leary’s) horse, I think it cost him as much momentum and he was going away at the line,” admitted McConnell.

“I’m obviously delighted as we haven’t had him that long. He was very straightforward and everybody in the yard has actually taken to him very well. He’s a lovely little horse.”

The first leg of the double had been much more straightforward as Higher Kingdom landed the first division of the mile handicap in style.

Siobhan Rutledge sent her mount to the front a furlong and a half from home and soon scooted clear to record a six-length win over French Rescue.

Quirky horse

“It worked out very well. I think he is a horse that likes space,” said the winning trainer. “He is well handicapped if you look at his form from England. He’s a very quirky horse.

“He has got ability but he doesn’t always give it to you, but he has today and the owner (Seamus Devlin) has been very patient.”

The winner was backed from 20/1 into 17/2 and there was a good gamble landed in the second division of the race when Cheers Again scored for Paul Flynn.

He had opened at 25/1 on the night before the race and went to post 7/2 favourite.

Asserted

Rory Cleary produced him to lead over a furlong out and he soon asserted for a two-and-three-quarter-length win over Darkdeserthighway.

Flynn said: “He came back (after Cork) and he was all wrong and I gave him a break. I honestly thought he wanted further because he was maybe a bit weak.

“When we brought him back, the more we did with him, the quicker he was getting. His pedigree suggested this trip.

“In fairness, John (Eastwood, owner) lost plenty of money on him in Cork so it was great to get a bit back today.

“Rory has ridden horses for me for ages and I gave him nothing but rubbish, so it is nice to give him a winner!”