Colin Keane rode a double at Naas on Sunday to extend his lead at the top of the Flat Jockeys' Championship to five.
Keane was on the scoreboard early when Power Under Me scored in the opening maiden by a comfortable two and a quarter lengths for Trainer Ger Lyons.
The 2017 champion jockey brought up his brace in the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Race Final with Ecliptical.
👏 Smart performance
Ecliptical (Elzaam) absolutely thunders home to take out the €120,000 @ForanEquine Irish EBF Auction Race Final at @NaasRacecourse for @gerlyonsracing & @ctkjockey
Results & free replays ➡ https://t.co/sBcsavHpYf pic.twitter.com/htTDYV1SJV— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 18, 2020
The son of Elzaam made a sweeping move from last to first to delight connections.
“When he won in Bellewstown the plan was to go for this race," said Shane Lyons, assistant to winning trainer, Ger Lyons.
"He wants a mile but we thought with the bit of cut in the ground this would suit. He’ll be a lovely horse next year, is all heart, and showed there that he has a touch of class as well."
Colin Keane title lead
That winner extended Colin Keane's lead at the top of the Flat Jockeys' Championship to six but Shane Foley struck back with a listed win in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Bluebell Stakes on board Barrington Court.
Conditions suited the mare who is a listed bumper winner but has been disappointing over hurdles on occasion.
The court lays down the law 💪
The likeable Barrington Court makes it two victories from four starts on the Flat, landing the €47,500 Listed Bluebell Stakes for @Jessica_Racing in the colours of JP McManus at @NaasRacecourse
Winner no.84 for Shane Foley this term 👏 pic.twitter.com/6hnW9G27Bq— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 18, 2020
Winning trainer Jessica Harrington said: “Soft ground doesn’t seem to worry her whether she goes two miles or a mile and a half. She would probably have enough speed for a mile and a quarter.
“She may come back here for the Finale Stakes (November 7).
“I don’t think she will go back over hurdles as every time she runs she hurts herself.”
The jockeys' title race has flipped in the last fortnight with Keane passing out Foley. Today's double brings to 20 the winners' total for Keane in the last three weeks compared to just 12 for Shane Foley.
The season finishes on November 7th at Naas. Colin Keane will be hoping to repeat his feat at the venue when he lifted the title in 2017.
