Tag: Colin Keane

Colin Keane to Replace Rob Hornby Aboard Irish Derby Favourite Westover

Colin Keane will replace Rob Hornby aboard the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby favourite Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) at the Curragh on Saturday.

Westover endured a luckless run under Hornby to finish third behind Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the Cazoo Derby at Epsom and connections have explained that Keane's experience of riding at the Curragh swung the vote in his favour ahead of Saturday. 

The three-time Irish Champion Jockey has already tasted Classic success in the Juddmonte silks, courtesy of 2020 Irish Guineas winner Siskin, who was trained by Keane's boss Ger Lyons.

Speaking on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast, Juddmonte's racing manager Barry Mahon revealed that the agreement with Keane does not extend beyond Saturday's race, and that Hornby may well get back on the colt in the future. 

Mahon said, “We all sat down and felt that the Curragh is a unique track and that the Derby can be quite tactical so we said that experience on the track was going to be important. We've taken the decision to book Colin Keane, who is the three-time Irish champion jockey, to ride him on Saturday.

“There's no arrangement in place. At the moment, it's only for Saturday, and we'll review it afterwards with Prince Khalid's [Abdullah] family but you don't get more experienced around the Curragh than Colin Keane.”

He added, “We're using the best available. As you saw last week [at Royal Ascot], Frankie [Dettori], Ryan [Moore] and Colin [Keane] rode for us. It's a case of using the best available. A lot of the top jockeys have retainers and it's hard to get their services a lot of the time so it's good to have Colin there to stand in for us when we need him.”

Westover is a general 11-8 favourite to gain compensation for a luckless trip in the Derby at Epsom, where Mahon believes Hornby, who has ridden Ralph Beckett's charge in all bar one of his five starts on the track, was a hostage to misfortune. 

Mahon explained, “I thought Rob gave the horse a beautiful ride at Epsom. He was very unlucky and I think it's exactly what it was. He was unlucky that stall two has the hoodoo of never producing a Derby winner and, the reason why it has never produced a Derby winner is because, what happened to Westover is what happens [every year]. 

“You're on the fence and horses come down on top of you and there's nothing you can do about it. But I thought he gave him a beautiful ride and, in fairness to Rob, he has ridden him in all of his work and rode him again yesterday [Monday] morning in his last piece of work. He's been a brilliant team player.”

Mahon added, “Ralph has sat down and had a good talk with him. He's disappointed–of course he's disappointed–but we're definitely not saying that he won't be back on the horse again. This is a one-time thing for the Curragh and we'll see how Saturday goes and the family will review it afterwards and see what they want to do going forward.”

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Dark Angel’s Dr Zempf Back To Winning Ways

Disappointing when only fifth trying a mile in The Curragh's Listed Tetrarch S. May 2, Peter Brant's TDN Rising Star Dr Zempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was back in his comfort zone in Thursday's G3 Ballycorus S. as he successfully returned to the seven-furlong trip and Leopardstown venue of his Apr. 2 Listed 2000 Guineas Trial S. win. In front initially before handed a lead by the eventual third Pretreville (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}), the 13-8 favourite who was also runner-up in the G1 Phoenix S. in August blew by that rival with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and gave generously for Colin Keane to score by two lengths from fellow Ger Lyons-trained TDN Rising Star Straight Answer (GB) (Kodiac {GB}).

“I never had a doubt that he would get a mile and I was wrong,” Lyons admitted. “Colin said that he is strengthening up all the time. He shows me plenty of speed at home and we could bring him back to six, but Colin said don't do that. I'd say his future will be in America for Peter and I'd say that is where he will win his grade 1 around two bends. That was a lovely run from Straight Answer. Rory and Barry [Mahon] are adamant that the pedigree suggests he goes further. [Jockey] Gary [Carroll] said he'll win one of those over a mile.”

Dr Zempf is the third foal out of the G3 Prix Eclipse and Listed Prix de la Vallee d'Auge winner and G3 Prix d'Arenberg third Souvenir Delondres (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). Her first was Dancin Inthestreet (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), who was third in the 2020 Palace of Holyroodhouse H. at Royal Ascot. She is a half to the Listed Land O'Burns Fillies' S.-placed I'm So Glad (GB) (Clodovil {Ire}) connected to the dual listed scorer and G3 Prix de Seine-et-Oise runner-up Terroir (Ire) (Fairy King) and the GII Schuylerville S. and GIII Astoria Breeders' Cup S. winner Distinct Habit (Distinctive Pro). Souvenir Delondres's 2-year-old filly by Kingman (GB) is named Visiting Hours (GB), while she also has a yearling colt by Too Darn Hot (GB).

Thursday, Leopardstown, Ireland
BALLYCORUS S.-G3, €50,000, Leopardstown, 6-9, 3yo/up, 7f 12yT, 1:30.33, g/y.
1–DR ZEMPF (GB), 125, c, 3, by Dark Angel (Ire)
     1st Dam: Souvenir Delondres (Fr) (GSW-Fr, $138,754), by Siyouni (Fr)
     2nd Dam: Dilag (Ire), by Almutawakel (GB)
     3rd Dam: Terracotta Hut (Ire), by Habitat
1ST GROUP WIN. (420,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Peter M Brant; B-Stratford Place Stud (GB); T-Ger Lyons; J-Colin Keane. €30,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Ire, 7-3-1-0, $137,413. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Straight Answer (GB), 125, c, 3, Kodiac (GB)–Straight Thinking, by Mizzen Mast.
1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Ger Lyons. €10,000.
3–Pretreville (Fr), 138, h, 7, Acclamation (GB)–Pegase Hurry, by Fusaichi Pegasus. (€100,000 Ylg '16 AROYRG; €240,000 RNA HRA '20 ARARC; 95,000gns HRA '21 TATHRA). O-Shamrock Thoroughbreds & Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Serge Boucheron (FR); T-Adrian McGuinness. €5,000.
Margins: 2, NO, 1HF. Odds: 1.63, 8.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Thunder Moon (Ire), Real Appeal (Ger). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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Colin Keane To Be Crowned Irish Champion For Third Time

Colin Keane is set to become champion jockey in Ireland for the third time, following a record-breaking season. With the Irish Flat season set to conclude at Naas on Sunday, Keane is currently on 139 winners for the season. In August he passed the previous record of 126 set in 2013 by Joseph O'Brien.

Aidan O'Brien will be crowned champion trainer for the 24th time, while Sue Magnier is the champion owner of 2021. 

Dylan Browne McMonagle, a native of County Donegal, is set to be crowned champion apprentice. He rode his first Group winner on the Joseph O'Brien-trained Baron Samedi in the G3 Vintage Crop S. at Navan in April. Ahead of the final weekend of action, Brown McMonagle is on 47 winners, 15 clear of Mikey Sheehy with Nathan Crosse, Sam Ewing and Joey Sheridan next on the list.

“I have always been struck by the commitment and dedication of those working in our industry and my heartfelt thanks goes to each and every one whose extra efforts ensured that that the impact of Covid-19 on the 2021 Flat season was kept to a minimum,” said Suzanne Eade, interim Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland.

“Having owners back on the racecourse from early June was a huge boost to us all as was the return of racegoers ahead of a thrilling two days at Leopardstown and the Curragh for Longines Irish Champions Weekend.

“As we crown our champions this weekend, Colin Keane deserves special mention for breaking a number of records during the course of the season, he goes to Dundalk this evening with 139 winners to his name, a remarkable number.

“While our season wraps up on Sunday, I look forward to the international competition in the days ahead and I wish our runners heading to the Breeders' Cup and the Melbourne Cup all the very best.”

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Lope De Vega’s Duke De Sessa Takes The Eyrefield

After Saturday's exhilarating juvenile action at Doncaster and Saint-Cloud, Leopardstown pitched in late afternoon to offer up its own 2022 Classic hopeful in TDN Rising Star Duke de Sessa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the nine-furlong G3 Eyrefield S. Impressive over a mile at The Curragh when breaking his maiden Aug. 21, Newtown Anner Stud Farm's homebred had disappointed when sixth of seven over the same track dropping a furlong for the Sept. 12 G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. and had a point to prove in a deep renewal of this prize. Waited with in rear early as Colin Keane watched the action unfold, the 11-2 shot was still at the tail of the field two out but got motoring down the outer to reel in Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) in the last 50 yards. At the line, he had prevailed by half a length, with 1 1/4 lengths back to Anchorage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in third in a race that is likely to be a source of big names from next year onwards.

“He's a lovely colt, still immature, and he'll make a lovely colt next year,” trainer Dermot Weld said. “Hopefully he'll come back for a Guineas trial and I see him potentially as an Irish 2000 Guineas horse. He just had to wait there to get him out and get him balanced and he came home exceptionally well. He has a lot of pace this horse and the lovely thing about him is that he has stamina as well. He'll be a lovely mile or mile-and-a-quarter horse for next year, please God.”

Duke de Sessa is a son of the G3 Give Thanks S. runner-up Dark Crusader (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who is a half to the Listed Yeats S. winner and G3 Stanerra S.-placed Naughty Or Nice (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). The third dam Mosaique Bleue (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}), who produced the GI Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup H. hero Subtle Power (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), is a half-sister to the G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Muncie (Ire) also by Sadler's Wells, and the G1 Prix Royal-Oak winner Mersey (GB) (Crystal Palace {Fr}). Dark Crusader's yearling and foal are full-brothers to Duke de Sessa.

Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
EYREFIELD S.-G3, €50,000, Leopardstown, 10-23, 2yo, 9fT, 1:56.74, gd.
1–DUKE DE SESSA (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
     1st Dam: Dark Crusader (Ire) (GSP-Ire, SP-Eng, $141,387), by Cape Cross (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Monty's Girl (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire)
     3rd Dam: Mosaique Bleue (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (£60,000 RNA Ylg '20 GOFOR). O/B-Newtown Anner Stud Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Dermot Weld; J-Colin Keane. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, $52,305. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Piz Badile (Ire), 131, c, 2, Ulysses (Ire)–That Which Is Not, by Elusive Quality. O/B-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien. €10,000.
3–Anchorage (Ire), 131, c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Vanzara (Fr), by Redoute's Choice (Aus). O-Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €5,000.
Margins: HF, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 5.50, 10.00, 11.00.
Also Ran: French Claim (Fr), Boundless Ocean (Ire), Voice of Angels (GB), Grenoble (GB), Good Heavens (Ire), Lullaby (Ire), Warren Beach (Ire), Glory Daze (Ire), Caroline Herschel (Ire), Allihies (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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