Keane shows his class with Killarney treble
BACK OF THE NET: Martinelli and Colin Keane (yellow cap) win the Lough Leane Handicap at Killarney on Monday. Picture: Healy Racing
Two days after making his British Group 1 breakthrough, Colin Keane starred with a sparkling Monday treble in Killarney.
He kicked off when partnering Tangapour, trained for the Aga Khan by Johnny Murtagh, to a convincing, all-the-way win in the opening two-year-old maiden.
The Wootton Bassett colt proved four lengths superior to J M’s Joy, with favourite Heldtoransom only third.
Keane said: “Johnny felt he was in good nick coming here and that he’d handle the (heavy) ground. He told me to keep it simple and he won well.”
The champion jockey followed up on Kieran Cotter’s 11-race maiden Martinelli (8-1) in the (47-70) Lough Leane Handicap, scoring by a half-length from Saith Serene.
“The trip and ground were in his favour today and Colin gave him a class ride, top-drawer,” stated Cotter.
Keane completed his haul on board Sea Chariot, welcome winner for John Murphy, in the Torc Travel Handicap.
He challenged widest of all in the straight, along with favourite San Aer (Billy Lee) and, after a protracted duel, Keane’s mount prevailed by a length and a quarter, bringing the rider’s tally to 97 for the domestic season.
“I came down with a good book of rides, but riding three winners is a bonus,” admitted Keane. “This horse doesn’t have a lot of miles on the clock but he travelled strongly, handled the ground, and stayed going well. A mile is a good trip for him.”
Consistent Ballydoyle filly Get opened her account when outstaying her rivals in the 11-furlong fillies' maiden, scoring emphatically under Wayne Lordan.
“She’s been running well and is strengthening,” said Aidan O’Brien’s representative Chris Armstrong. “Wayne executed the plan to perfection. He wanted to keep off the inside and knew she stays well. She’ll get an entry for the Bluebell in Naas and we’ll try to get some black type for her.”
James Ryan joined Adam Caffery on the 27-winner mark (one ahead of Wayne Hassett) in the apprentice title race when getting the John O’Donoghue-trained Abbey Actress up close home to foil Beyond Your Dreams in the apprentice handicap.
On a day which promised plenty, Joseph O’Brien had to settle for one winner, the consistent Castanets (Dylan Browne McMonagle) in the Laurels Pub & restaurant Median Auction Maiden.
And Billy Lee’s strength proved crucial in the finale as Tom Hogan’s mare Cast A Spell pipped Nelson Muntz.
Earlier, Jack Kennedy was on the mark on board Gordon Elliott’s Minella Sixo in the Buy Your Early Bird Winter Festival Tickets Now Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
Winner of his only point-to-point for John Nallen before being bought by present connections, the Shantou gelding jumped to the front at the second last before drawing away to beat Banana Three by eight lengths.
“He’s a nice horse and Jack says there’s plenty of improvement in him,” said Elliott. “That ground is as quick as he’d want — he’s not one for proper winter ground, but we’ll have a bit of fun with him.”
The season’s leading rider Sam Ewing notched his 29th win of the campaign on Noel Meade’s Big Chou, who outpointed Charlie’s Dilemma wayward in the two and a half mile maiden hurdle.
“He’s a nice horse, more of a chaser and we mightn’t delay long over hurdles — and he likes good ground,” said Meade.
Ewing’s nearest pursuer Keith Donoghue had struck earlier when guiding the Philip Dempsey-trained hotpot Sansrisk to a smooth success in the opening mares' maiden hurdle.
“She was the form horse and entitled to do that in a weak enough race,” stated Dempsey. “She’s a light sort of filly and wants goodish ground. She has a lovely turn of foot and will probably go to Down Royal for the Grade 3 (Feathered Lady on November 1).”
And Pádraig Roche suggested a crack at the Cork National for Outside The Door following his gusty, staying performance in justifying 6-4 favouritism, under Peter Smithers, in the three-mile handicap hurdle.
