COLIN Keane was the star of the show at Killarney’s final fixture of 2024 where his treble brought up a seventh annual ‘century’ of winners in Ireland.
The five-time champion jockey began the year with three pre-season Dundalk winners and, having notched his first UK Group 1 success with Tamfana two days previously, steered home winners for trainers Johnny Murtagh, Kieran Cotter and John Murphy to move on to 97 for the turf campaign.
The treble was completed on Murphy’s Sea Chariot (100/30) who came from off the pace to beat San Aer by a length and a quarter in the Torc Travel Handicap.
Keane said of the Sea Chariot Partnership’s four-year-old: “George (Murphy, trainer’s son and assistant) wasn’t sure about the heavy ground and - I must say - for the first half-mile, neither was I. I gave him a chance to get into a nice rhythm and he came home well.”
Third time lucky
Tangapour (7/4) got off the mark on start number three in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden to give Keane his first winner of the day.
The Aga Khan’s colt, trained by Johnny Murtagh, made all and was ridden clear over a furlong out to beat slow-starting J M’s Joy by four lengths.
Of the Wootton Bassett colt, Keane said: “Johnny felt he was coming here in good nick and thought he’d handle the ground. He wanted to keep it straightforward and we did that, so thankfully it worked.”
The middle leg of Keane’s three-timer was Kieran Cotter’s Martinelli (8/1) who made the breakthrough in the three-year-old handicap over a mile.
Having been settled towards the rear, the son of Blue Point made steady progress in the straight and led inside the final 150 yards to beat Saith Seren by half a length.
Cotter said of the Knobel McGrath Partnership’s winner: “He was a late-maturing type so hasn’t been overly raced and had his trip and ground today, as he likes a good dig in it.
“We’ll see what the handicapper does and he could eventually be a nice horse for someone to go hurdling with. He is very athletic and is well related.”
TWO progressive fillies fought out the finish of the M.D O’Shea & Sons Apprentice Handicap for three-year-olds with the John O’Donoghue-trained Abbey Actress (4/1) getting up close home under James Ryan.
The daughter of Make Believe, owned in partnership by her breeder John O’Connor, Paul Nolan and Nora O’Donoghue, was stepping up in trip by three furlongs and needed every yard of it to thwart recent Listowel winner Beyond Your Dreams by a neck.
“That is the right trip and, more importantly, that’s her ground and there is more improvement to come,” said Ryan.
This success moved Ryan onto 27 winners for the campaign and level with Adam Caffrey in the race to be champion apprentice with Wayne Hassett just behind that pair.
Battle to the end
He added: “It is tight between me, Adam and Wayne so I’m sure there’ll be a good battle to the end. It would be great to win it but it will be hard and either way, I’ve had a good season.”
The Laurels Pub & Restaurant Median Auction Maiden was won by Castanets (11/4 favourite).
Never out of the first four in four previous starts, the daughter of Gleneagles raced close to the pace and got the better of a final-furlong tussle with Victoria Kessia by a neck.
The winner is trained by Joseph O’Brien for Paget Bloodstock, Anne Gaffney and Barbara Murphy.
Winning rider Dylan Browne McMonagle said: “She was very tough and handles this ground. I think this was a nice trip for her on testing conditions because she probably does stay a mile and two well.”
A BUMPER winner in Britain last year for Gary Moore, Cast A Spell (5/4) gained a first win since rejoining her original trainer Tom Hogan when getting up in the final stride in the one-mile, three-furlong maiden for older horses.
Placed in maiden hurdles earlier in the year, the daughter of Mastercraftsman had been running well since having her attentions switched to the flat and, having been pushed along in rear turning for home, came home well under a strong drive from Billy Lee to foil Nelson Muntz by a short head.
Tough filly
Hogan said: “She is a tough filly and while the trip was short for her today, the ground helped. She has been consistent and, if the handicapper isn’t too hard on her, she might win a handicap. Hopefully now she’ll be a nice mare over hurdles during the winter.
“Her owner Alan Jamieson is a fabulous owner, so it is unfortunate he couldn’t be here today. Alan is a Geordie but is based south of London.”
He added: “I went to the sales recently and brought back three yearlings so I’m in the market for a few new owners.”
Successful
Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien followed up a hugely successful weekend at Longchamp with a Killarney winner as Galileo-sired Get (9/2) landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Maiden.
Owned by the Coolmore partners, the winner raced prominently and led early in the straight to beat Elana Osario by two and a quarter lengths.
Rider Wayne Lordan reported: “She is very straightforward and we’re not tied down to any trip with her.
“Here was a nice opportunity, she handles the ground and got the mile and three very well. She is a big rangy filly and is strengthening away.”