Double delight for Keane at Tipperary as Evening Saigon stakes Royal Ascot claim 

PULLING CLEAR: Evening Saigon and Colin Keane win the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Race. Picture: Healy Racing 

Five-time champion jockey Colin Keane recorded an early double on Tuesday’s card in Tipperary, a brace which included the night’s most valuable race, the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Race, aboard newcomer Evening Saigon.

Michael O’Callaghan’s debutant, a recent purchase for 160,000 guineas, was heavily supported in the market and began the process of repaying his purchase price with a good effort. Runner-up Kilmood Susan ran around a bit, but the winner was nicely on top at the line and should only improve, perhaps when stepped up in trip.

“He’s a lovely colt,” said O’Callaghan. “We bought him from Tally-Ho at the Craven Breeze-Up probably about six weeks ago, and he’s just been very professional since he came home. He’s had a couple of days away and he works with the colt (Red Evolution) that was third in the Curragh on Saturday, and that just told us that we haven’t got a bad bunch. He’s entered in the Railway and might possibly go to Ascot.” 

The first leg of the double came in the opening race, the Tipperary Races Claimer, aboard the Jack Davison-trained Come On The Lads. The four-year-old travelled strongly to challenge quite early in the straight and Keane didn’t have to get too serious to make his mount pull clear of his rivals, which were headed by El Bello. Ger O’Leary claimed the winner, and Leanne Breen claimed the runner-up.

A 50-1 winner opened the card in Ballinrobe, but Tipperary racegoers had to wait for the second race to get their shock winner. Akecheta, a four-year-old Sioux Nation filly making her debut, came from last to first to cause a 40-1 upset. Trained in Carrick-on-Suir trainer Kevin Coleman and ridden by Shane Kelly, the grey came wide and late to land the spoils from Counterculture.

Truly Enchanting was quite weak in the betting prior to the Visit Tipperary Fillies’ Maiden but the Aidan O’Brien-trained filly defied that apparent lack of confidence with a thoroughly convincing display. Understandably green in the early stages, she made progress to challenge Oxford Rock before they entered the final furlong and from there she impressed as she galloped away in fine style to win by three and three-quarter lengths. A trip to Ascot could be on the agenda for Ryan Moore’s mount.

“Ryan was delighted with her,” said O’Brien. “He said that she’d have no problem getting six and might even get seven, and that she handled the ground well, so we’re delighted with her. She was green early, but Ryan said they didn’t go mad early, so it gave her a chance to get it together first time. He was very happy with her, so that’s great.

“We’ll see how much she comes on. She was away before she came, but she’s a little bit laidback at home so she could come on plenty, so I’d say the Albany is a possibility.” 

Staysound Susie, who was third in three of her seven previous outings, finally got her turn when making virtually all the running in the @tipperaryraces Maiden. Odds-on favourite Gaenari mounted a challenge from the furlong marker but the leader, trained by Andy Slattery and given a strong ride by Ben Coen, found plenty to see that one off with a little to spare.

Johnny Murtagh saddled his fourth winner of the last 10 days and young rider Rory Mulligan rode the fourth of his career when Sevenseas ran away with the TipperaryRacecourse.ie Handicap. Without having to get serious, Mulligan sent his mount clear into the final furlong and no danger ever emerged. It was a first win for the Sea The Moon gelding, who was racing for the eighth time.

The finale was the Racing Again Tomorrow Handicap and Cuban Grey, trained in Co Tyrone by Patrick McKenna and ridden by Joey Sheridan, earned his first win since joining current connections. The four-year-old, who had 21 runs in Britain in the last calendar year, clearly thrives on racing as he was placed in two runs this month and showed no ill-effects as he battled on to beat Improving by half a length.