Colin Keane

Newtown Anner Stud's homebred 2-year-old colt Duke de Sessa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) made good, and then some, on the promise of a fast-closing July 26 debut third over seven furlongs at Galway with a blistering performance upped to one mile for Saturday's Coolmore Arizona Irish EBF Maiden at The Curragh. Finding cover along the fence in fifth after a sharp getaway, the 6-4 favourite cruised into contention on the bridle once past halfway and powered clear in hand once gaining an edge at the quarter-mile marker to easily...

Colin Keane had already steered Eclat de Lumiere to TDN Rising Stardom in The Curragh card's opening contest and repeated the dose to bring up a quickfire double aboard Juddmonte's 2-year-old colt Straight Answer (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the DMG Media Irish EBF Maiden over six furlongs at the County Kildare venue. Breaking smartly and racing under a firm grip in a prominent third initially, the 15-8 favourite slipped to sixth when angled to the centre of the track at halfway and soon had matters in hand when swooping for...

She may have been a shade slowly into stride for Saturday's Irish Stallions Farms EBF Maiden at The Curragh, but Moyglare Stud Farm's 2-year-old filly Eclat de Lumiere (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) was motoring at the business end of the seven-furlong contest to earn TDN Rising Star status with a degree of panache and become the 12th 'TDN Rising Star' for her sire. Overcoming a dawdling getaway and an unfavourable outside draw to track the leaders in sixth after the initial strides, the 7-2 chance made smooth headway into...

Leading up to Thursday's G3 Grant Thornton Ballyroan S. at Leopardstown, Dermot Weld raised concerns that star distaffer Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal)) may not be as forward as in previous years, but His Highness The Aga Khan's 5-year-old showed little sign of ring-rustiness and plundered the Foxrock card's 12-furlong feature by daylight. The homebred chestnut enjoyed a banner 2020 season, going unbeaten through a four-race campaign which included wins in the G1 Prix Vermeille, G1 Prix de l'Opera and GI Breeders' Cup Turf. Sent postward as the heavily backed 1-2 favourite,...

Juddmonte's unbeaten 2-year-old filly Sacred Bridge (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), fresh from a career high in Tipperary's June 30 Listed Tipperary S., kept her perfect record intact with a game victory in Monday's €300,000 Irish EBF Ballyhane S. at Naas. 3rd-Naas, €300,000, Cond, 8-2, 2yo, 5f 205yT, 1:12.01, gd. SACRED BRIDGE (GB) (f, 2, Bated Breath {GB}--Sacred Shield {GB}, by Beat Hollow {GB}), backed up a June 23 debut score over course and distance with a career high dropping to five furlongs for Tipperary's Listed Tipperary S. on stakes bow...

Hammered down to 1-2 favourite for Saturday's G3 Jebel Ali Racecourse and Stables Anglesey S. at The Curragh following his impressive winning debut over six furlongs here June 25, Beauty Inspire (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) duly landed the gamble after a tussle with Andreas Vesalius (Ire) (Caravaggio) and Hadman (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Keen early tracking that duo, the Ger Lyons trainee looked poised for a facile win two out but ultimately had to work to get to the front passing the furlong pole. Grinding it out from there, the Beauty Stable...

Coming closest in five attempts at group 1 success on his latest in the May 23 G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, Ballydoyle's Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) finally made it count on Sunday leading with every step under Colin Keane in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. Sporting the silks of Masaaki Matsushima, the 5-year-old who had been second to Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) in the June 19 G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot since that narrow Curragh reversal was unperturbed by being asked to take up front-running duties. Stretching...

Sent to Wednesday's Listed Coolmore Ten Sovereigns Tipperary S. just a week after scoring on debut at Naas, Juddmonte's Sacred Bridge (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) was able to continue the momentum and gain a first black-type success in a race marred by the fatal breakdown suffered by Ballydoyle's Amalfi Coast (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}). Sent off the even-money favourite dropping back from six furlongs to five, the Ger Lyons-trained full sister to last year's GI Matriarch S. heroine Viadera (GB) pursued the early pace and after gaining the advantage passing the...

Beaten three times by Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) already this term, Tom Hendron and Finbar Cahill's Helvic Dream (Ire) (Power {GB}) had been inching closer each time and chose the big occasion to turn it around as he denied that Ballydoyle rival in a thriller for the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup on Sunday. Benefitting from the heavily rain-eased going at The Curragh, the 4-year-old who emanates from the Noel Meade stable better known for its national hunt runners travelled smoothly on the inside in mid-division throughout the early stages. Filling...

Jockey Colin Keane will ride for Dermot Weld this season when not required by Ger Lyons, the Irish Field reports. Keane and Weld teamed up in November to win the GI Breeders' Cup Turf with Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal), with Keane picking up the mount the day before the race when Christophe Soumillon was ruled out by a positive COVID test. Weld said that jockey Oisin Orr, who rode Search For A Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for the trainer to win last year's G1 Irish St Leger, will remain part of...

French-based jockey Christophe Soumillon has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been stood down from his rides on Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) and Order of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Turf and GI Breeders' Cup Mile, respectively. Colin Keane will take the ride on Tarnawa, and Pierre-Charles Boudot has been named on Order Of Australia. Soumillon was tested for coronavirus on Wednesday at Keeneland and upon receipt of the positive result on Thursday, another test was performed which also came back positive. Soumillon is now in isolation...

Colin Keane has earned his second Irish Champion Jockey title and a century of winners when he booted home Pretty Boy Floyd (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB]) to win a handicap at The Curragh on Monday. The season is officially over in Ireland at Naas next weekend, but Keane's nearest rival, Shane Foley, is still seven winners behind. Foley was also in action on Monday, but both jockeys will not be present at Naas, because they are riding in the upcoming Breeders' Cup at Keeneland on Nov. 6-7. The highlight of Keane's...