Listed success for Aussie Girl as Keane doubles up

Colin Keane completed a quick double at the Curragh as the Fozzy Stack-trained Aussie Girl made all in the Listed Darley Irish EBF Brigid’s Pastures Stakes.

The Starspangledbanner filly has really progressed since taking a Sligo maiden this spring, adding a valuable handicap at the Curragh on Irish Derby weekend and a number of useful placed efforts before gaining a third success here.

The well-backed 9/4 favourite broke smartly from stalls and had her rivals well stretched before keeping on strongly inside the final furlong to beat the William Haggas-trained Pinafore by a length and three quarters. Special Wan was a further two lengths back in third.

Keane said, “She probably deserved that as she has been very consistent in Listed and Group company and she handles those conditions well.

“She jumps, she travels and she’s tough.

“Fozzy said not to interfere with her. She usually jumps smart and he said let her dictate on her own terms. I put my hands down, sat on her as long as I could and she picked up again in the last furlong.

“She’s a filly that should only improve with time. She is a big filly, handles those conditions well and is very tough and genuine.”

Keane was also successful just over half-an-hour earlier aboard the Noel Meade-trained newcomer Letherfly