Double delight for Keane ahead of Epsom missions
POETRY IN MOTION: Poetic Sound and Colin Keane win the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Handicap at the Curragh on Wednesday. Picture: Healy Racing
Ahead of his high-profile Classic commitments in Epsom, Colin Keane bagged the €50,000 twin-features at the Curragh, scoring on Amiata and Poetic Sound, both trained by Ger Lyons.
Pride of place goes to Poetic Sound, who stayed on dourly to get the better of favourite Factual Fact in the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Handicap, a ‘win and you’re in’ race for the Ebor at York in August, providing Keane’s fiancée Kerri, daughter of the winning trainer, with a first winner in her colours, having been gifted the horse by his breeder and former owner John Keaney.
Ger Lyons said: “I’m delighted for Kerri — she rides this horse out every day. He has had issues and lost his way a bit last year. He’s probably the slowest horse in the yard, but Colin said he felt great today.”
He then quipped: “It would be bad manners not to go to the Ebor now, if he’s okay.”
Earlier, Keane pounced late on Amiata to land the €50,000 Sky Bet Price Boosts Premier Handicap.
The 7-1 shot tracked the leaders before coming through to beat favourite Real Encounter by a neck with Allsortz just a nose away in third.
“He’s a good, fun horse and his heart is in the right place,” stated Lyons. “When the handicapper is kind to him, he’ll do that but penalties will stop him.”
Aidan O’Brien saddled two for the seven-furlong Sky Bet Club 2-Y-0 Maiden and while 4-9 favourite Giant Sequoia (Ryan Moore) struggled in third spot, Aix La Chapelle (4-1) and Wayne Lordan swooped late to deny Bull Shark by a length and a half.
“He’s a lovely, relaxed colt, by Justify, a real sleeper at home,” explained O’Brien. “We were getting both horses out to see if they were Chesham horses. I’d say that’s where he’ll go now.”
Also Royal Ascot-bound is the Michael O’Callaghan-trained Celeron (Jamie Powell) following his convincing, two-length win over One Number in the six-furlong Pension Structures 2-Y-0 Maiden.
The Mohaather colt, who refused to enter the stalls ahead of his intended debut at Navan, looks a smart sort. O’Callaghan explained: “We bought him privately in the spring and all he has done is improve and improve. What happened in Navan was unfortunate, but he was good today.
“He’s a good horse and won like a good horse. He’s still a big, raw baby. I’m delighted to see the conditions of the new Windsor Castle — he qualifies and that’s the plan.”
Joseph O’Brien saddled a one-two in the mile and a half fillies’ maiden as the consistent, 77-rated Arrietty came good, beating stable-companion Pleased emphatically and providing champion jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle with a win on his first day back after a seven-day suspension.
“She’s been very consistent, progressing from run to run and we felt she’d enjoy stepping up to a mile and a half,” said Joseph O’Brien, “We’ll look for a nice fillies’ handicap for her.”
Runner-up in both starts as a juvenile, The Piper’s Call made a successful return to action for trainer Danny McLoughlin when justifying 5-2 favouritism under Scott McCullagh in the six-furlong TRI Equestrian Maiden.
The handsome Ten Sovereigns gelding made most of the running and held odd market rival Tide Of Fortune by a neck, prompting his trainer to comment: “He’s very laid-back, like a child’s pony at home. He’s only 90% fit and had a good blow, according to Scott, so he should improve a lot.”
Under a mandatory 7lb for a gutsy win in Down Royal last Friday, Meriden bolted-up for Denis Hogan in the opening Sky Bet Extra Places Handicap, giving Joey Sheridan his 22nd winner of the season.
Hogan acknowledged: “It was taking a chance running her back so soon but she was so well in herself and I knew she’d love the Curragh. She’s improving and finding her feet. And there’s an ideal race for her, fillies’ only, over seven furlongs, back here on Derby weekend.”
