COLIN Keane became the winningmost rider in an Irish flat season when bagging his 127th winner of the season at the Curragh last Sunday.

The breakthrough success came on Power Under Me for his boss Ger Lyons in the Hatstone Waterford Testimonial Stakes.

It proved plain sailing on the 15/8 favourite in the six-furlong listed contest as the Vincent Gaul-owned gelding posted a convincing two-and-three-quarter-length success.

The son of Mehmas struck the front over two furlongs from home and the result never looked in doubt after as he galloped on strongly to grab himself a little piece of history.

Keane said afterwards: “We’ve been getting close to it slowly but surely, I’ve had plenty of seconds in the last two weeks.

“It was great to level it for the boss and then to go and beat it for the boss is even better. It hasn’t sunk in and probably won’t until we start on zero next year and we’re looking back on it.

“We try to beat every year’s tally. We mightn’t have a year like this again for a while so we’ll appreciate it while it’s here.”

Trainer Ger Lyons added: “Colin is a credit to himself, his family and the whole racing industry. He’s a fine example of what a champion jockey should be. He keeps himself to himself and lets his riding do the talking.

Better

“Every winner he rides from now until the end of the season is going to be a record and, you know what, next season he will want to better whatever total he finishes with this season so he is going to keep us on our toes!”

The champion-elect wasted little time in adding to his historic haul with 15/2 shot Pretty Boy Floyd striking in the following Duralock Racecourse Fencing Handicap.

Sarah Dawson’s charge recorded his third win at the track when making all in the five-furlong contest and repelling the challenge of Shelly Banks by a length and a quarter.

Dawson, who trains the six-year-old for Gerry McManus, said afterwards: “It’s great, I can always relax in the morning when I know Colin is on board as there are no instructions to be given.

“The horse has just been waiting for a bit of juice in the ground. He’s been running consistently all season but he’s just better when there is a bit of juice.”

JOHN Kiely has a special place in his heart for the Irish Cesarewitch and realised a long-held ambition with Line Out in the €80,000 contest.

The 18/1 shot travelled noticeably well to lead over two furlongs out in the two-miler and stayed on well in the closing stages for Shane Foley to register a length-and-a-half success in the colours of the Lillingston family.

The 84-year-old trainer has a long history with the race and said: “He wasn’t the bravest of jumpers and he always had that little bit of class so I was aiming for this and praying that we’d get in. I’ve had the race in mind for him since last year.

“I’ve been associated now with three winners of this race. I won it in 1969 under my father’s name and we won it with Clara Allen in 2005. We had our first runner in it in 1953, which finished fifth. The race has been very good to me.”

Third success

Loingseoir and Annalise Cullen teamed up for their third success together this year when the Michael Grassick-trained gelding took the Bord Na Mona Recycling Apprentice Handicap.

The 7/2 favourite led under two furlongs from home in the mile contest to record a length-and-a-half win over Reverberation.

“We actually thought the ground was drying out a bit for him,” said Grassick. “I told Annalise to try and get him on the front foot coming out as he’s inclined to be a little bit slow away. He jumped and travelled really well. He’s in the horses-in-training sale at Goffs and will probably go there.” Grassick owns the five-year-old Patrick Pearse and W Keeling.

The concluding contest on the card produced a shock winner with Avagardner scoring at 80/1.

Robbie Colgan came with a strong run inside the final furlong on Sheila Lavery’s charge to record a half-length win over Gordon Bennett in the six-furlong Sentinel Ireland Handicap.

“Nobody is more surprised than me or Robbie. I’ve always liked this filly but I’ve been kind of struggling with her. I just thought if I threw enough mud at the wall it might stick,” admitted the winning owner/trainer.

THE equine performance of the day was undoubtedly by Limiti Di Greccio in the Staffordstown Stud Stakes. The Paddy Twomey-trained filly overcame lots of traffic problems in the mile listed contest.

Billy Lee found himself with nowhere to go on the inner early in the straight and the Elzaam filly did remarkably well to quicken up inside the final furlong when switched out.

She got to the front in the last 50 yards and was actually well on top at the line to record a length-and-a-quarter success over Tranquil Lady.

“I was concerned when they turned in and she seemed to meet every bit of trouble she could,” said Twomey. “I was confident if she could get any bit of light we’d run well anyway and she exceeded my expectations.

“Her owner (Martin Schwartz) wanted to go to France for the Group 1 and the Breeders’ Cup but I managed to talk him out of it. We won this last year and I wanted to come here. I think it’s a perfect stepping stone for the (Irish) Guineas.”

Tartan Skirt also looked a filly with a bright future when opening her account in the Irish EBF Median Sire Series Maiden. The Michael O’Callaghan-owned and -trained daughter of Mehmas went to post a 8/13 shot after a promising debut effort at Punchestown and the result never looked in doubt.

Leigh Roche led passing the two pole and she quickened away inside the final furlong to post a cosy two-length win over Secret Magician.

“She has a bit of class, she’s by a good stallion, and I think she’ll keep on improving. I’m delighted with her. She has plenty of pace but I can see her getting seven for a Guineas trial next spring. She handled that ground but would like nicer ground.”