Six-time champion jockey Colin Keane receives seven-day ban
BAN: Colin Keane received a seven-day ban for failing to ride out Sindagan for second place in the Gowran Park Golf Club Maiden. Pic: HEALY RACING.
On an evening when Joseph O’Brien continued in superb form, posting a short-priced double with Perisher and Go Just Do it, six-time champion-jockey Colin Keane received a seven-day ban for failing to ride out Sindagan for second place in the Gowran Park Golf Club Maiden.
Keane, who is set to ride Field Of Gold in the Bet365 Mile in Sandown tomorrow, made his move to challenge odds-on favourite Go Just Do It with two furlongs to race.
But it soon became obvious that Joey Sheridan’s mount, second leg of the Carriganog double, was in command.
The favourite coasted home an impressive four lengths winner with Keane’s mount being denied second place (by a short-head) in the dying strides by Solana Beach.
The Stewards found Keane to be in breach of Rule 212, by “failing to achieve his best possible placing” and having “eased his riding”.
The sanction for a first offence will prove costly in his role as retained rider for Juddmonte, in addition to his commitments to Ger Lyons.
Go Just Do It, a towering son of Kingman, bolted-up, in the style of an above average colt. And his trainer Joseph O’Brien commented; “We thought highly of him last year. He was highly tried but disappointed us the last day.
“He did all his racing at the Curragh last year and this is a very different track, presenting a different test. But I thought he was hugely impressive, as impressive a maiden winner as you’d see.
“My gut feeling is to stick to seven furlongs for now, rather than step-up. He could be a ‘Jersey’ horse.”
Earlier, Joseph O’Brien was responsible for a 1-2 in the median auction maiden as 80-rated Perisher (Declan McDonogh) put his experience to good use holding off his promising, debutant stable-companion Alphonsus Liguori by a head.
“He deserved his win – he had a few good runs last year,” said O’Brien.
“He was tough and Declan feels he can step up to ten furlongs. The second horse exceeded our expectations and looks a nice maiden.”
O’Brien’s Greydreambeliever (2/1 favourite) attempted to make all in the €30,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap but having looked sure to triumph, she was collared late and beaten a half-length by Mick Butler’s Rion Rubette (Paddy Harnett), who overcame traffic problems to grab the spoils.
In the other handicap action, Johnny Feane saddled 9/4 favourite Chirac (Ronan Whelan), stepping-up in trip, proved a ready winner of the Dining Packages At Gowran Park Handicap while Andy Slattery continued his hot-streak when Kitty Bear (Orlan Tynan) proved best in the Thomastown Handicap.
And Anthony McCann, who will have three runners in Musselburgh on Sunday, took the finale, the @GowranPark1 Handicap with the grey Prom Queen, who made all under Luke McAteer for a gutsy success.
Winner of a Cork maiden on her debut before finishing fifth to Lake Victoria in last year’s Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas but off the track since, the Paddy Twomey-trained City Of Memphis made a successful return to action when readily justifying 11/10 favouritism in the five-runner Racing Again May 5th Race.
The Sioux Nation filly, ridden by Billy Lee, mastered front-running Lord Massusus before holding Cowardofthecounty by a length and three quarters, prompting her trainer to comment; “She’s a nice filly and this was a perfect race for her. Like a lot of mine, she was a bit rusty but should improve plenty.
“She was a good purchase at the (Tattersalls) Breeze-Ups with the hope of winning group races. I won’t rush her, but I’d say the ‘Ridgewood Pearl’ (Group 2, at the Curragh, on May 24) would look a very good race for her.”
