KEANE TREBLE EXTENDS LEAD
COLIN KEANE appears to have taken a firm grip in the race for the Flat Jockeys Championship, having extended his lead to seven (90-83) over Pat Smullen, and was cut to odds of 1/20 with Paddy Power to claim the title following a treble at Naas yesterday.
Trainer Ger Lyons – who supplied his stable jockey with all three winners – described it as “a good day in the office for everyone involved” as Keane pursues a first championship and looks to have a lead that is close to unassailable, with the season ending in Naas on November 5.
There is no Flat action again until Friday at Dundalk but with Lyons’ horses showing no sign of stopping, following a double at Cork on Saturday as well, the young challenger is in an extremely strong position to see off the nine-time champion.
The highlight of the Lyons treble was the victory of Elegant Pose, a halfsister to stable star Brendan Brackan, who won the feature race at Cork on Saturday. The first leg of the Lyons/ Keane treble came in the prestigious Birdcatcher Nursery as Moonlight Bay made a winning debut for new connections.
Purchased at the Goffs Sale on Irish Champions Weekend, the filly (9/2) had previously raced twice, winning a Naas maiden for Kevin Prendergast, and landed some nice bets to claim the €50,000 heat. Another stable newcomer, Mustajeer, brought up the treble as he justified stable confidence to score on his first Irish start since being bought out of Owen Burrows’ by shrewd owner David Spratt.
Smullen did manage to record one winner, booting home Yulong Gold Fairy (9/4 ) for boss Dermot Weld.